Job summit initiative forgot to measure jobs
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A job summit initiative to attract entrepreneurial business people to New Zealand, who would then create jobs, has forgotten to measure whether or not any jobs were created, says Labour Immigration spokesperson Pete Hodgson.
A year after it was launched the government has been forced to reveal, in answers to parliamentary questions, that the scheme does not measure job creation.
As a result of the job summit, the business migrant scheme was revamped and the entrepreneurial categories were changed to create a focus on jobs.
“This change was expected to create around 2700 new jobs over five years,” said Pete Hodgson.
“But the number of new jobs is not being measured.
"That is inept. A job summit idea that doesn’t measure jobs when implemented is patently foolish. Yet Ministers signed off on it and were quick to trumpet how clever they were.
“In July last year Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee said ‘this fresh approach will ensure we bring more investors….. and create real jobs for New Zealanders’,” Pete Hodgson said.
“Where are the real jobs for New Zealanders Mr Brownlee? You forgot to measure them!
Question 19760: What is the total number of jobs that were projected to result from Entrepreneur Category applicants who applied on or after 28 July 2009, if any, and how many jobs have resulted from those applications?
Minister: Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
I am advised that the Entrepreneur Category does not specifically require job creation. Job creation is one of the several criteria where a business maybe be considered to benefit New Zealand. As it is not a mandatory requirement the data is not automatically captured and therefore cannot be provided without manual collation.
Date Received:09/08/2010
