Future workforce needs of New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry

Labour has always been a critical component of our industry’s production and NZKGI’s Labour & Education portfolio works to ensure we have a workforce that is fit to meet current and future growth. To this end, NZKGI commissioned Scarlatti, with support from key industry and regional partners, to develop a data-driven labour report for the kiwifruit sector. The results of the report are now available.

The report outlines current and future workforce needs and is designed to inform decision-making across growers, packhouses, and supporting organisations. Some of the major findings are:

●       Permanent workforce demand is expected to grow steadily, while seasonal demand will remain a major pressure point.

●       Automation will improve productivity and reshape some roles, but it will not remove the industry’s reliance on labour.

●       Meeting future workforce growth will require a combined strategy focused on productivity, retention, and labour supply.

●       Future labour supply constraints may place upward pressure on wages.