Skilled workers are in great demand in New Zealand. Those migrants who have the right skills and qualifications are not only wanted but welcomed and seamlessly absorbed into the country’s skilled workforce.
Many industries, businesses & sectors in New Zealand require appropriately skilled professionals. A skill shortage occurs when employers are unable to find workers with the right skills for the job. To enable the economy to be sustained, the New Zealand government had three lists for skills in demand, collectively called the Essential Skills in Demand (ESID) lists or the Skills Shortage Lists.
The three lists recording skill shortages in New Zealand –
Workers with skills that are on one or more of these lists find it easier to apply for work and resident visas.
Due to the global pandemic, NZ borders have been almost shut for over two years. The pandemic affected jobs & businesses with some industries growing and some shrinking.
Hospitality & tourism and the transport sectors were badly affected as there were no tourists. On the other hand, there was an increase in the demand for health care professionals and teachers.
New Zealand is all set to open its borders and welcome tourists, students, workers and migrants from 31 July 2022. In preparation for this and to revitalise the economy the New Zealand government recently announced some changes to its immigration policies.
One such change is the introduction of the new skills shortage list called The Green List. With effect from 4 July 2022 the Green List replaces the three existing skills shortage lists and is now the only list which will be used to determine skills shortage.
The Green List contains a limited number of highly skilled roles that are in huge demand globally and for which there is a shortage in New Zealand. It includes the occupations that New Zealand employers find difficult to recruit for.
The Green List has 85 hard-to-find-skill roles that can primarily be divided into seven categories:
1) Construction roles – Engineering, Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager etc.
2) Engineering roles – different types of engineers such as Chemical, Civil, Structural, Electrical Electronics, Mechanical, Telecommunication etc,
3) Health & social services roles – General Practitioner (GP), different types of Surgeons, different types of Psychologists, Veterinarians, Psychiatrists, Dermatologists, anaesthetists etc.
4) Primary industries and science roles – Food Technologist, Environmental Research Scientist etc
5) ICT, Electronics & Telecommunications roles – ICT Project Manager, Software Engineer, Multimedia Specialist etc.
There are certain specific trades and professions that are in demand in New Zealand. These include a Quantity Surveyor, Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Veterinarian, Multimedia Specialist (Film Animator), Chef, Teacher, Accountant, Dairy Cattle Farmer, Baker, Panel beater etc. The table below gives a snapshot on what these professions are, the qualifications and/or experience required for these roles and the average pay that a worker can expect.
Skill | Qualification and/or Experience required | Pay Scale |
Registered Nurse (RN) | A bachelor’s degree or higher qualification. In some instances, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification
|
NZD 60,000 – 1,36,000 per year |
Health Care Assistant | No specific formal qualification is required | NZD 44, 193 – 52,435 per annum |
Teacher
There are different types of teachers: i) Early Childhood Education (ECE)Teacher ii) Primary School Teacher iii)Secondary School Teacher iv)Tertiary Lecturer (colleges, polytechnics & universities) |
A bachelor’s degree or higher qualification. In some instances, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.
A certificate from the Teaching Council of NZ is a must.
|
ECE Teachers: NZD 45,000 – 98,000 per year.
Primary Teachers: NZD 48,000 – 80,000 per year Secondary teachers: NZD 52,000 – 80,00 per year |
Engineer (in any field) | A bachelor’s degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience and/or relevant vendor certification may substitute for the formal qualification. | Civil Engineer:
Mechanical Engineer: NZD 78,669 – 1,27,000 per year
Mechanical Engineer: NZD 41,145 – 1,37,500 per annum |
Business Analyst | A bachelor’s degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience and/or relevant vendor certification may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification
|
NZD 82057 – 1,25,000 per year |
Accountant | A bachelor’s degree or higher qualification. In some instances, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification
|
NZD 75,000 – 1,07,993 |
Knowing which jobs are in skill shortage can help interested migrants choose the option that is best suited for their migration pathway.
Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219.
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Vandana Rai is a Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser and has built a reputation around her rare set of skills, which could be considered ideal for her legal profession.