Bridging the Gap: The Vital Role of Business in Youth Employment and Community Strength

The New Zealand Government’s push to reduce benefit dependency, including initiatives that tighten eligibility for young job seekers, highlights a societal need to transition more youth into work. For this policy to succeed, a supportive job market is essential.

Businesses that step up to offer experience placements become active partners in this goal, with benefits for both young people and employers. By providing the entry-level experience, which is often cited as a barrier to employment, businesses are directly contributing to the government’s target of reducing the number of people on Jobseeker Support.

Community support for young people is a strategic investment in the future prosperity and social fabric of our regions. For businesses, this means actively engaging in providing work experience and voluntary opportunities that equip young community members with the skills and confidence to thrive in the modern workforce.

Practical experience, whether paid work experience or voluntary service, provides the essential real-world bridge between the classroom and a career. These opportunities allow our young people to develop core employabilityskills. From communication and teamwork to problem-solving and professionalism, these “soft skills” are consistently cited by employers as highly valuable. Volunteering has been shown to significantly enhance a job candidate’s profile, with a large majority of employers valuing this experience.

Work experience also builds confidence and identity. Successfully navigating a workplace or community project can boost a young person’s self-esteem and provide positive adult role models, which helps our youth develop a stronger sense of purpose and connection to their community.

The exploration of career pathways through short term placements or volunteer roles offers a low-risk way for both young people and business to test one another and leads to more informed and sustainable employment decisions for both.

Organisations like ours, with our deep local roots and focus on “Investing in the Next Generation,” are perfectly positioned to act as a conduit between your business and work-ready youth.

We offer specialised programmes, such as our employment pathways and support-to-employment services, which include:

Y Work Ready, our work readiness support service offers job seekers, who are not ready to transition directly into work, one on one support, guidance, motivation, and belief that they are capable of work.

Drive2Work, our Employment Placement service offers job seekers, one on one support, and guidance throughout their job search journey. They are empowered to learn successful job search skills and strategies through being motivated and engaged in making a better future for themselves, with the goal being long-term employment success.

Our specialist Employment Coach and Connectors work directly with candidates looking for work and liaise with local businesses to create pathways and partnerships. They continue to support the young people for up to a year after placement, improving retention and success for the business and the youth.

By partnering with the Y Central South Island, your business gains access to screened, supported, and motivated young talent, while making a tangible difference in your community. It’s an opportunity to embody the belief that empowering the mana of youth is the most powerful investment a business can make.