The group is one of 15 regional skills leadership groups being set up by the Government in collaboration with regional partners to identify and support better ways of meeting future skills and workforce needs in different regions.
Employment Minister Willie Jackson said the Otago group would draw together leaders who were already active in their communities, representing expertise in employment, business, industry, local iwi and Maori, and government.
"These groups were planned before the arrival of Covid-19 as part of a joined-up approach to labour market planning which will see our workforce, education and immigration systems working together to better meet the differing skills needs across the country."
"This work is now more important than ever as Covid-19 is having a far-reaching impact on our regional labour markets. We have acted quickly to get these groups going.
"They will help ensure we understand the impact that Covid-19 is having on jobs across Otago by acting as a central point of local labour market information and independent advice to government.
"This advice will help government to provide tailored and effective support to meet the needs of local employers and jobseekers, now and into the future."
The Otago group will be chaired by Naylor Love regional director Jason Tutty.
"I am pleased to be working with a group of diverse leaders from across the region," Mr Tutty said.
"Together, we will bring a passion for what is possible, as well as an awareness of the region’s labour market needs in the immediate and long term futures.
"As we are transitioning from emergency management to longer-term recovery efforts, this group will be ideally placed to get our region the best support possible," Mr Tutty said.
The 15 regional skills leadership groups were initially set up on an interim, one-year basis with a swift appointment process, and a mandate to support the immediate response to the regional labour market impacts and disruption arising from Covid-19.
In the longer term, the groups will develop regional workforce plans, which will look at future labour market needs, to ensure regions have the right skills and workforce planning to seize local economic opportunities.
