Mayors Taskforce for Jobs

What Mayors Taskforce for Jobs does

Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) is a New Zealand non-profit organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Wellington, operating as a mayor-led network across 40+ district councils to address youth unemployment, particularly for rangatahi aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). The organization's flagship offering is the Community Employment Programme (CEP), a $9 million government-funded initiative delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development that places over 1,020 young people into sustainable jobs through wage subsidies, training cost coverage, driver licensing support, and tool/equipment subsidies, with each participating council customizing delivery to local industries. MTFJ is governed by a Core Group of mayors and managed by a small national team led by Programme Manager Maree Brannigan, with Mayor Ben Bell of Gore District serving as Chair; Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) acts as MTFJ's legal entity partner.

Beyond the CEP, MTFJ operates a portfolio of development and research products including the Tuia mentorship programme pairing young Māori rangatahi with mayors, Outward Bound scholarships, Industry Training Graduations, the Youth Insights research service, and the Youth Employment Dashboard built in partnership with data analytics firm Dot Loves Data. The dashboard provides real-time youth employment trend data to councils and policymakers. The organization's Job Seekers Support service incorporates third-party AI tooling, notably the Ruru AI career coach on Te Heke Mai, alongside Tahatū Career Navigator and Digital Suite resources.

MTFJ's business model is government-grant-funded rather than commercial: it does not charge beneficiaries for services and operates without disclosed pricing. Revenue flows primarily through the MSD CEP contract, supplemented by local government support via LGNZ and partnership contributions (Outward Bound, King's Trust). The organization reports a $5.60 social return on investment per dollar spent, assessed by ImpactLab in 2020 across six participating districts, providing evidence-based credibility for continued public funding. The go-to-market motion is community-led and partner-distributed: MTFJ coordinators embedded in councils provide face-to-face employment support, while a broader partner ecosystem (Ara Taiohi, Driving Change Network, Youth Employability Aotearoa, the Tertiary Education Commission, King's Trust) drives referrals and programme alignment.

Name

Mayors Taskforce for Jobs

Legal name

Mayors Taskforce for Jobs

Website

https://mtfj.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mayors Taskforce for Jobs is a Wellington-based non-profit founded in 2000 that operates a mayor-led network across 40+ New Zealand councils to place NEET rangatahi aged 16-24 into sustainable employment, primarily through a $9 million MSD-funded Community Employment Programme and complementary development, research, and data products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Employment Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM), Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE)

Keywords

• Youth employment services
• Community employment programme
• Workforce development
• Youth development
• NEET support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding - Ministry of Social Development: MTFJ receives funding through the Community Employment Programme contract with MSD Industry Partnerships to support councils and mayors in connecting rangatahi with employment opportunities. The $9 million investment funds wage subsidies, training costs, driver licensing, and tool/equipment subsidies.
2. Local Government Support: MTFJ operates in collaboration with Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) as its legal entity partner. LGNZ amplifies the work of MTFJ through skills, networks, and national connections.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mayors Taskforce for Jobs is a mayor-led network that connects 40+ district councils across New Zealand with local employers to place young people aged 16-24 (rangatahi), particularly those not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), into sustainable jobs. The Community Employment Programme delivers personalized support including training, mentoring, driver licensing, career guidance, CV building, interview preparation, financial literacy, job retention support, and mental health support, funded by a $9 million Ministry of Social Development contract.

Product overview

Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) is a nationwide network of mayors operating since 2000, not a technology product company. The organization operates a portfolio of youth employment and development services including the Community Employment Programme (government-funded initiative placing 1,020+ young people into jobs), the Youth Employment Dashboard (data analytics tool with Dot Loves Data), Youth Insights (NEET research), Tuia mentorship programme, Outward Bound scholarships, Industry Training Graduations, and Job Seekers Support resources. These are social service and advocacy programmes rather than software products. The Coordinator Toolkit is an internal password-protected portal for staff use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Employment Programme A government-funded employment initiative that places young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) into sustainable jobs across New Zealand, operating through 40+ local councils and offering wage subsidies, training support, driver licensing support, and tool/equipment subsidies.
• Youth Employment Dashboard A data analytics platform developed in partnership with Dot Loves Data that provides real-time insights into youth employment trends, helping councils, community organisations, and policymakers make data-informed decisions on youth unemployment.
• Youth Insights Research and data resources addressing the NEET challenge (young people not in employment, education, or training), examining soft skills gaps and work experience barriers affecting youth employability in New Zealand.
• Tuia Programme A nationwide mentorship initiative pairing young Māori (rangatahi aged 18-25) with local mayors, featuring regular meetings, 100-hour community service projects, and four leadership wānanga per year to nurture Māori leadership.
• Outward Bound Scholarship Scholarship programme offering rangatahi aged 18-26 the opportunity to attend a 21-day Outward Bound Classic course in Anakiwa, Marlborough Sounds, valued at $5,434 with $1,000 remaining fee per person, combining outdoor challenges and teamwork to build confidence and leadership.
• Industry Training Graduations Ceremony programme partnered with Work Based Learning Organisations enabling mayors to host celebrations for trainees and apprentices who have completed National Certificates through Industry Training Organisations.
• Job Seekers Support Comprehensive job-seeking assistance for young New Zealanders including career quizzes via Tahatū, CV and cover letter building through Ruru AI career coach on Te Heke Mai, digital skills preparation via Digital Suite, interview preparation tools, and pastoral support for CV building, financial literacy, and mental health.

Quantifiable outcome

• $5.60 social return for every dollar invested in the Community Employment Programme (assessed by ImpactLab in 2020 across six participating districts)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.

• Ministry of Social Development (MSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSD Industry Partnerships works with businesses, training providers, government, and communities to address skills shortages and create quality employment opportunities. Through the Community Employment Programme (CEP) contract with MSD, MTFJ supports councils and mayors to connect local rangatahi with real job opportunities, helping them into sustainable employment while meeting regional workforce needs.
• Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGNZ is the national membership body representing councils, advocating for local government and supporting strong local leadership. MTFJ works with LGNZ to strengthen the connection between mayors and youth employment initiatives. LGNZ is currently MTFJ's legal entity partner and amplifies the work of MTFJ through their skills, networks, and national connections.
• Ara TaiohistrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAra Taiohi is the peak body for youth development in Aotearoa, connecting around 4,000 individuals and organisations who work alongside young people across the motu. MTFJ works with Ara Taiohi to align youth employment with wider youth development practice, drawing on their sector leadership, training, and advocacy to strengthen local delivery.
• Outward BoundstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutward Bound is a leading outdoor education organisation that builds confidence, resilience, and leadership through challenge in the Marlborough Sounds. MTFJ partners with Outward Bound to provide scholarships for young people nominated by mayors, with scholarships valued at $5,434 plus $1,000 remaining course fee per person for 21-day Classic courses designed for 18-26 year olds.
• Driving Change Network (DCN)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCN is a collective of over 900 stakeholders working to create a fair and accessible driver licensing system. MTFJ partners with DCN to strengthen local efforts in driver education, training and licensing support, helping remove barriers that prevent young people from fully participating in work and community life.
• King's Trust Aotearoa New ZealandstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe King's Trust is part of a global group of charities founded by His Majesty The King in 1976, dedicated to helping young people gain the confidence and skills to thrive in education, work, and enterprise. MTFJ is working with The King's Trust to open up new pathways for rangatahi, with a strong focus on growing youth entrepreneurship and enterprise.
• The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEC plays a leadership role in shaping New Zealand's national careers system, including Tahatū Career Navigator. MTFJ works with TEC to bring Tahatū and initiatives like Inspiring the Future directly into communities and schools, helping broaden rangatahi career horizons through the influence of mayors and their local networks.
• Youth Employability Aotearoa (YEA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerYEA is a nationwide network of organisations and individuals dedicated to ensuring young people aged 13-30 have the skills, confidence, and support to thrive in the changing world of work. MTFJ partners with YEA to connect mayors and councils with proven employability frameworks, amplifying youth work-readiness through national networks and resources.
• Dot Loves DatasupportingTechnology or IntegrationMTFJ partnered with data analytics firm Dot Loves Data to develop the Youth Employment Dashboard, a powerful tool designed to support data-informed decision-making. The dashboard provides councils, community organisations, and policymakers with real-time insights into youth employment trends, with the unique dataset openly accessible.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Per Scholas: US nonprofit providing tuition-free technology and professional skills training to individuals from underrepresented communities, with employer partnerships driving placement. Comparable in operating a training-plus-placement model for disadvantaged job seekers funded largely by government and employer partners.
• Year Up: US nonprofit providing young adults from underserved communities with skills training, work-based learning, and corporate employer connections leading to employment. Comparable as a youth workforce placement and training programme serving NEET-equivalent populations with employer subsidies.
• Driving Change Network: New Zealand collective of 900+ stakeholders working to create a fair, accessible driver licensing system. Comparable in working through councils and community partners to address a specific employment barrier (driver licensing) faced by the same rangatahi cohort MTFJ serves.
• The Smith Family: Australian charity supporting disadvantaged children and young people through education and employment programs, funded by government, corporate, and community sources. Comparable in mission, youth focus, and government-corporate-philanthropic blended funding.
• Youth Employability Aotearoa (YEA): Nationwide NZ network of organisations dedicated to ensuring 13–30 year-olds have the skills, confidence, and support to thrive in work. Directly comparable in mission and methods; a strategic partner of MTFJ focused on employability frameworks and work-readiness delivery.
• Beacon Foundation: Australian non-profit focused on education, training, and employment outcomes for young people, working with schools, employers, and government. Comparable as a regional youth employment and workforce-readiness nonprofit with employer-subsidy mechanisms.
• The Prince's Trust (UK): UK charity founded by King Charles in 1976 to help young people into education, training, and employment through mentoring, training, and employer engagement. Highly comparable in mission, youth focus, and royal/leadership branding — and directly linked to MTFJ's partner, King's Trust Aotearoa.

Regional players

• Careerforce: New Zealand's health and community, service, and industrial workplace industry training organisation, supporting trainees and apprentices. Comparable as a NZ-based training and apprenticeship delivery body linked to industry training graduations and work-based learning.

Broad incumbents

• Ara Taiohi: Peak body for youth development in Aotearoa connecting ~4,000 individuals and organisations working with young people. Listed as a strategic MTFJ partner and broadly comparable as a NZ-wide convening body for the youth development sector in which MTFJ operates.
• Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ): National membership body representing New Zealand councils and serving as MTFJ's legal entity partner. Comparable as the broader local government umbrella under which MTFJ's mayor-led network operates, and a key institutional amplifier of its work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MayorsTaskforceforJobs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mayors-taskforce-for-jobs-mtfj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mayors Taskforce for Jobs