Tech New Zealand warns of structural digital skills shortage

A new report titled "Digital Skills Aotearoa: Digital Skills in the Age of AI" by Tech New Zealand warns that a shortage of advanced digital talent is becoming a structural issue for the nation's economy.

While the technology sector remains a significant growth engine—contributing approximately $24 billion, or 8% of New Zealand's GDP—the domestic pipeline of talent is under pressure. Key factors contributing to this challenge include declining student participation in science, technology, and math subjects, limited entry-level opportunities for graduates, and lower ICT migration.

Tech New Zealand Chief Executive Graeme Muller stated that the country cannot assume continued growth without investment in human capability. He noted that demand remains high for specialized skills in AI, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and software development. The report emphasizes that digital capability is now essential across the entire economy, not just within technology firms.