Two employment schemes going live this week will help tens of thousands of people continue training on the job and support thousands more into work, the government has announced.

Apprenticeship Boost, a subsidy of up to $12,000 per annum for first year apprentices and $6,000 per annum for second year apprentices for employers of new and existing apprentices was made available from August 5.

An extra $30.3 million in funding for an expanded Mana in Mahi – a programme to help people into long-term work with recognised industry qualifications – has also been made available.

"This government recognises the challenges people and firms are facing with this 1-in-100 year shock. We need to do everything we can to keep New Zealanders working, keep them training and help people to find work particularly in areas where there are skills shortages,” Minister of Education Chris Hipkins says.

'Without initiatives like Apprenticeship Boost, we risk losing our apprentices and facing a massive skills shortage on the other side of the pandemic, like we did after the Global Financial Crisis.

"Investing in our people is the focus of the Government's five-point plan for the economy as New Zealand rebuilds.”

Employment Minister Willie Jackson says there is clearly a demand for the Mana in Mahi Programme so it's pleasing to be able to extend Mana in Mahi as it celebrates two years this month of supporting people with a holistic transition into work.

'The changes we have made to Mana in Mahi will also better support a wider range of people, including workers of all ages who may have to retrain due to the economic impacts of COVID-19,” he says.

Investing in employment support

Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni saiys MSD has received more funding to help both current clients and new job seekers get back into work.

'An additional $54 million has been allocated to MSD to assist people get back into work. This funding will be allocated to a number of MSD programmes that help support people retain work, retrain or move into different industries where there are good job opportunities.

'We know that these challenging times require us to ensure our employment support response remains fit for purpose. It will support MSD to be better able to both place and keep people in work – and be a critical part of our broader economic recovery,” Sepuloni says.

This funding builds upon the initial $150 million for the Employment Service Response to COVID-19 initiative announced as part of the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund foundational package.