Summary

Young people in work and education

The youth population in Christchurch fell in 2011, following the earthquakes, with some leaving the city and fewer people entering greater Christchurch for tertiary education.

Historically, employment outcomes for young people in greater Christchurch have been better than in the rest of New Zealand. But in the wake of the earthquakes, the proportion of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) rose.

Unemployment among young people spiked in 2011 but has since come back to more normal levels.

Leaving school

School leaver achievement levels in greater Christchurch were higher in 2011 than in previous years, despite the disruption to the schooling network caused by the earthquakes. However, there are wide differences between schools in achievement levels.

Six years after leaving school, a quarter of those who leave with no qualifications have not undertaken any further formal education or training.

Participation in tertiary education

Tertiary education enrolments went down in greater Christchurch in 2011 in response to the earthquakes.

12 percent among domestic students, compared with 7% nationally.

By an estimated 30% among international students.

Among domestic students, the fall was greater among first year students and among those from outside Christchurch.

In 2012, the domestic enrolment numbers went up slightly on 2011, with polytechnic enrolments strong. But international enrolments went down again.

The performance of the tertiary education institutions

The three tertiary education institutions – which are responsible for 80 percent of the tertiary education delivery in greater Christchurch – face financial challenges as they embark on their repair and renewal programmes. The government has asked all three to prepare business cases that may lead to capital injections by the Crown.