ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Business NZ warns of a major labour shortage by 2050

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Wed, 19 Nov 2025, 6:18am
Business confidence improved in the September quarter. Photo / Michael Craig

Business NZ warns of a major labour shortage by 2050

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Wed, 19 Nov 2025, 6:18am

A warning our major political parties need to display more bipartisan planning, so we don't buckle to a dwindling population and economic growth. 

Business NZ's report warns a labour shortage of at least a quarter of a million is expected before 2050, and there's also a one in four chance the population doesn't grow.

Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Andrew Dickens says major parties need to reach a certain level of bipartisan agreement on the country's big decisions 

She says businesses want to see steady incremental progress not a pendulum shift which potentially puts us backwards.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you