New Zealanders deal with services daily, whether they are banking, going online, dining out, or buying and selling a home. As well as accounting for over 70% of New Zealand’s GDP, the services sector is a key enabler of productivity for other sectors through the supply of technical, logistical and other business services. Over 70% of jobs and businesses are in services, ranging from tourism and travel, accountancy, law and ICT, to scientific and technical services.
Given the size, breadth and significance of the sector, improving the productivity of services can have positive effects for the whole economy and for the wellbeing of New Zealanders. The Government asked the Commission to investigate ways to lift the productivity of the services sector. Read our brief here.