The survey found entrepreneurship to be a recurring theme among graduates in beauty, health, trades and community services. Photo: 123RF
An increasing number of vocational school graduates are looking to set-up shop rather than find a job.
Independent research by private training school, Skills Group, indicates business ownership ranks among the most common long-term ambitions for the graduates.
"With over 40 percent seeing business ownership as a short to long-term goal, and almost 7 percent already preparing to launch immediately, the entrepreneurial pipeline is strong," Skills Group director Mark Worsop said.
"They are courageous and thinking strategically about how their qualifications can best serve them, not just in the job market but as entrepreneurs, leaders and independent professionals."
The survey of more than 1,200 of New Zealand's graduating students found entrepreneurship to be a recurring theme, particularly among graduates in beauty, health, trades and community services.
"With over 600,000 small businesses in New Zealand, we really need to nurture and support young talent as they prepare to blaze a trail - contributing to both local economies and the overall GDP of the country," Worsop said.
He said there was a need for qualifications that supported small business development, including enterprise education, mentoring and support systems to help aspiring business owners move from intention to action.
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