17 April 2008

New Zealand immigration could boost productivity

A lack of workers to fill jobs in key industries in New Zealand is affecting the country's productivity. According to Voco, a company in New Zealand, the country is facing growth stagnation if nothing is done to address the shortage. Increasing levels of New Zealand immigration may be one way of solving the problem.

Brendan Renall, of Voco, said: "While the Government has a number of initiatives to curb this trend, we need to think outside the '70/80 hour a week box' and improve core business functions if we are to get out of the lower quartile." New Zealand is currently among the bottom 25 per cent of all OECD countries for productivity. Mr Renall also said that the country needs to do more to attract people to New Zealand immigration. People considering a move to New Zealand may want to start the process by taking a New Zealand online visa assessment.

New Zealand needs skilled migrants: Anyone applying for a New Zealand visa should begin by taking the New Zealand Visa Bureau's online New Zealand visa assessment to see if they meet the basic legislative requirements.