22 January 2008 -- Southland's workforce requirements and needs are being investigated through a regional workforce survey with the objective of developing a labour market demand assessment and regional strategy.

Venture Southland is undertaking the study in partnership with the Department of Labour and the Southern Institute of Technology, to investigate the region's current skill shortages and develop a strategy to help develop and maintain viable workforce for the next 10 to 15 years.

The employer surveys are being posted out this week and need to be completed and returned to Venture Southland by Friday 8 February.

Venture Southland enterprise services manager Alistair Adam said meeting the demand for suitably skilled workers was a global challenge and of significant importance to the continued growth and development of Southland.

"Southland is currently facing significant changes to labour market requirements and this, coupled with an ageing workforce, means we are unable to keep up with employment needs," Mr Adam said.

"Southland has the lowest unemployment rate and the highest participation rate in New Zealand and our first priority is to provide work and skill development opportunities for young people and the existing workforce, however, increasingly we are relying on skilled migrants to meet our employment needs."

The confidential employer survey would research areas such as the ageing workforce, new job creation, new industries, student perceptions of career choices, current sector initiatives and migration trends.

Mr Adam said it was critical to have an understanding of future labour market requirements to ensure that needs could be met and information from the region's employers and business owners would play a vital part in establishing these needs.

Information gathered through the survey would be used for analysis and migrant targeting. By completing the survey, local employers would be able to gain access to potential skilled migrant databases.

In April, Venture Southland would be attending the Job Opportunities NZ Expo in London and Leeds in order to attract skilled migrants to Southland. Mr Adam said the survey would also allow local employers to register their interest in receiving information about potential employees contacted through such events as the overseas expos.

Any employers wishing to take part in the survey, that may have not received a form, can download the form from www.southlandnz.com/business