Fletcher Building will extend a successful programme with Work & Income to help it find workers for the rebuilding of Christchurch, and minimise potential skill shortages.
Work & Income will place one of its managers in Fletcher Building's head office in Auckland to identify beneficiaries that could fill vacancies in the listed building products and construction company.
It follows a trial that led Fletcher Building's earthquake recovery organisation in Christchurch to place 26 beneficiaries into paid work over the past nine months.
Fletcher Building human resources general manager Kate Daly says it partly helps the company address shortages and Work & Income get a stronger understanding of the skills Fletcher Building needs.
She says when the Christchurch recruitment team has vacancies, WINZ has searched the candidates on its books who are seeking employment and who might have the right skills for the job.
While there is no guarantee they will get the job, Fletcher Building interviews them and then proceeds as it would with any standard recruitment.
She says the process gives WINZ a very clear understanding of what skills and type of people Fletcher Building is looking for.
Ms Daly says the vast majority of the 26 people who Fletcher Building has taken on from WINZ the majority are still working with the company and four of them are in supervising positions.
She says she's found they are getting some very high quality candidates from Christchurch.
Ms Daly says the arrangement will last for 26 weeks.
She says other Fletcher Building businesses are also working with Work & Income to provide training in occupations like quantity surveying, where New Zealand suffers shortages.
