Student interest in tech declines as digital talent demand soars

School students' interest in technology subjects is declining across New Zealand, despite the job market being hungrier than ever for digitally skilled workers — especially in artificial intelligence.

The latest NCEA data showed a 10.4% decrease in those taking up tech subjects such as computer science, programming, digital design, and electronics in Year 11.

The trend emerged even as 92% of New Zealand jobs now required digital expertise, with a demand for AI, cloud computing, cyber security and data analysis skills on the rise.

New Zealand's AI industry was expected to hit $206 million this year.

Potentia director of customer Julian Lambert said there had been a 300% increase in AI related roles on job marketplaces such as Seek and Trade Me in the last few years.

"Kids don't really know what technology jobs look like for the future with the interventions of AI and what's going to steal the responsibilities they might have formerly had within those jobs."

Despite the decrease, some schools were working to reverse the trend.

At Papakura High School, students were embracing Mission Read, a programme designed to demystify careers in tech and provide pathways, particularly to underrepresented communities.

Deputy principal Rebecca McGrath said pathways into tech "aren't yet visible" for a lot of students.

"For young people like ours, who are predominantly Māori and Pasifika, we don't have the same representation in tech."

Women were also underrepresented with just 39% of students earning NCEA tech qualifications being female.

At the university level, the gap widened with only 22% of IT graduates being women.

Mission Ready candidate recruitment adviser Jayda Felix-Mounlath said there was a myth about having to be a certain type of person.

"You feel a bit like a unicorn, sometimes you just need that one opportunity to say, 'hey, why don’t you give this a go'?"