SWIFT Research

Research

Good decisions start with good evidence. Here's the research and data that shapes how SWIFT invests in South Waikato.

South Waikato Workforce, Employment & Training Needs Study

South Waikato Workforce, Employment and Training Needs Study

Commissioned by SWIFT and delivered by Veros Property Services Limited, the South Waikato Workforce, Employment and Training Needs Study provides a shared evidence base to understand current and future workforce pressures across the district.

The study draws on direct engagement with local employers, education providers, and stakeholders to identify skills shortages, emerging industry needs, and gaps in training provision.

Its findings highlight the importance of locally aligned pathways, stronger coordination between industry and education, and place-based leadership to support a resilient, future-ready workforce for South Waikato.

A shared data snapshot to guide smart, place-based investment.

Prepared by Scarlatti, the South Waikato district stocktake brings together key public data to provide a clear baseline of the district’s social, economic, education, employment, housing, and infrastructure context.

Designed to inform strategic decision-making, the stocktake enables comparison with other districts and helps identify South Waikato’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities.

This shared evidence base supports SWIFT and its partners to target investment where it can have the greatest long-term impact for the community

ECONOMIST HORIZON SCAN FOR SOUTH WAIKATO pdf

Looking Ahead for South Waikato

This research by economist Shamubeel Eaqub explores the economic forces shaping South Waikato and what they mean for the region’s future.

It looks at the challenges the district faces, as well as the opportunities for local organisations and communities to work together to build a stronger, more resilient future.