19 October 2007

IT job boom for New Zealand visa holders

The New Zealand IT sector will need over 11,000 new skilled workers in the next four years, according to the latest survey from IT research company IDC. New Zealand is already experiencing a significant IT skills shortage and many of the predicted new jobs will have to be filled through New Zealand immigration.

The IDC survey forecasts the creation of over 300 new IT companies and the industry as a whole is to contribute NZ$2.8 billion (£1 billion) to New Zealand's gross domestic product. IT spending growth will grow 4.3 per cent per year for the next four years and annual software growth is estimated at 6.8 per cent.

Many of the new jobs are predicted to be mid and high level IT positions, which will not be able to be filled by university graduates. British IT professionals with New Zealand visas will find many opportunities in New Zealand's booming IT market.

New Zealand needs skilled IT professionals: anyone interested in New Zealand immigration should complete the New Zealand Visa Bureau's online New Zealand visa assessment to see if they qualify for a New Zealand visa.