In 2004 the then Secretary of Labour, James Buwalda, initiated the change for outcomes process because a new approach was needed to ensure the Department can deliver the best results for everyone who wants to work in New Zealand.

The work of the Department of Labour makes a real difference to New Zealanders' lives. As the experts on a critical part of the economy, the labour market, the Department has a key role in leading this country's development.

In this time of high employment, the Department's work has never been more important. It is crucial that labour market constraints do not hold back continuing economic growth, and that we find ways to boost our workplace productivity.

In the past, the Department was structured around a number of quite separate services, such as the New Zealand Immigration Service, Occupational Safety and Health service, and Employment Relations Service. Each service was focussed on outputs in its own area: from providing services to migrants, to inspecting factories for safe work practices. As their location in a single Department showed, the services all shared a common sphere of interest - the labour market. But their activities often remained quite separate.

Connecting for Outcomes brings those services closer together so the Department can be more effective. By uniting its wide range of expertise into a coherent whole, the Department can provide stronger leadership on labour market issues, and better serve its customers, who are looking for a one-stop-shop when it comes to work-related matters.

The Department's new structure also reflects the need to concentrate on two key objectives: increasing New Zealand's skills base and boosting productivity. Five Deputy Secretaries lead five groups that work together to achieve these goals. The two largest groups are Workforce and Workplace: Workforce focusing on people in work, and Workplace looking at the way we work.

Andrew Annakin is the Deputy Secretary Workforce. Workforce builds New Zealand's resource of skilled workers by bringing together the Department's expertise in employment, skills development and migration. It incorporates the New Zealand Immigration Service and policy work in people, skills and employment.

Craig Armitage is the Deputy Secretary Workplace. Workplace incorporates the Occupational Safety and Health Service, Employment Relations Service, policy teams including those working with ACC, and the new Workplace Small Business Support.

Monique Dawson is the Deputy Secretary Work Directions. Work Directions improves the performance of our workforce and workplaces by actively responding to the constraints and opportunities of our current and future labour markets. It works with other key players who can influence economic development, to help shape the future of work.

The Legal group is headed by Deputy Secretary Graeme Buchanan, and the Corporate group is led by Deputy Secretary Brian Sage.