Productivity Commission inquiry

Technological change and the future of work - Productivity Commission inquiry material 2019 - 2020

The Productivity Commission completed its inquiry into technological change and the future of work, and presented its final report and recommendations to Government in 2020.

What did the inquiry find?#

Technology doesn’t just replace jobs, it also creates them. Technology has many effects on the labour market, some of which are positive for workers, the quality of work, and jobs. Predictions that technology will inevitably replace work are simplistic and out of step with historical experience.

There isn’t much sign of looming technological disruption. Faster technological progress would be evident in labour market and economic measures, such as productivity growth, occupational churn, and business start-up rates. But across the developed world, all of these measures are slowing or declining.

New Zealand needs more technology, not less. Technological progress and adoption drives productivity and income growth. If we want higher incomes for ourselves and our children, New Zealand firms need to take up technology at a faster rate than has been the case in recent years.

New Zealand is well-placed for faster technology adoption in some respects, but not in others. By international standards, adult New Zealanders are skilled and train at high levels. Our policy settings generally encourage openness to ideas, goods, services, investment and skills. And our labour market has historically done a good job of creating lots of jobs. On the other hand, core skill levels in our schools are dropping; high house prices make it hard for some workers to move to better jobs; and New Zealand’s business environment lacks dynamism.

New Zealand should build on its strengths and address its weaknesses. The Commission recommended a number of policy changes to better prepare current and future New Zealanders for the future of work:

  • Make the training system more flexible and accessible. Shorter courses, and better access to financial support, will make it easier for New Zealanders to keep their skills current and retrain.
  • Improve and expand careers advice and employment support. More can be done to help people successfully navigate career and job change.
  • Urgently address the performance of the school system. Schooling that leaves a significant share of New Zealander with poor skills will leave them ill-prepared to succeed in the future.
  • Update employment law to target harms, not platforms. 'Gig’ work creates benefits for many people. Employment law should be updated to recognise how technology is changing some work and make it easier for contractors to gain benefits such as training, insurance and superannuation contributions.
  • Explore options for better income smoothing. Some New Zealanders who lose their jobs currently face large falls in incomes and high financial stress.
  • Update regulation to remove barriers to technology and promote worker mobility. Some New Zealand regulations need refreshing, including data access, competition policy, genetic modification controls and land use policies.

Government response#

The final report was tabled in Parliament on 11 May 2020 and the Government’s response was received in June 2021.

Timeline#

  • Terms of reference - 25 February 2019
  • Engagement and consultation starts
  • Issues paper - 18 April 2019
    • Public submissions closed - 5 June 2019
  • Draft reports - September 2019 - January 2020
    • Public submissions closed - 17 February 2020
  • Final report - 31 March 2020
  • Evaluation - July 2020
  • Government response - June 2021

Key documents#

Final report and Government response#

Final Report: Technological Change and the Future of Work Inquiry
Doc. Date Sort ascending Creator Title
Government of New Zealand
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission

Terms of reference and issues paper#

Issues Paper: Technological Change and the Future of Work Inquiry
Doc. Date Sort ascending Creator Title
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
Minister of Finance

Research#

Research: Technological Change and the Future of Work Inquiry
Doc. Date Sort ascending Creator Title
New Zealand Productivity Commission
Spencer, Kathy

Research (externally hosted)

Draft reports#

Draft Reports: Technological Change and the Future of Work Inquiry
Doc. Date Sort ascending Creator Title
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission

Digital Divide workshop#

Digital Divide Workshop: Technological Change and the Future of Work Inquiry
Doc. Date Sort ascending Creator Title
New Zealand Productivity Commission; New Zealand Work Research Institute
New Zealand Productivity Commission
Bentley, Ann; Fatemi, Mehrdad

Submissions#

Public submissions on issues paper - Technological change and the future of work

Public submissions on draft report - Technological change and the future of work

Evaluation#