21 December 2007

New Zealand immigration for tight labour market

New Zealand's tight labour market is causing difficulties for employers and is set to continue, according to the Employers & Manufacturers Association (EMA). A recent national salary and wage survey by the EMA shows that pay increases are being enjoyed across the board. Opportunities for Britons with New Zealand visas are considerable.

David Lowe, the EMA employment relations manager for the northern region said: "We are on the cusp of a skill shortage and labour shortage. And not just at the very top levels. We are talking about people with good, solid skills such as tradespeople. I think the natural state of the New Zealand labour market is one of being quite tight. This is what the labour market looks like for the foreseeable future. That's the advice we're giving businesses."

Senior staff such as managing directors saw their salary increase by 9.5 per cent on average this year, well above the average 4.5 per cent. Electricians enjoyed wage increases of 9.2 per cent, registered nurses 9.1 per cent, diesel mechanics 8.4 per cent and general clerks 6.3 per cent. However, the biggest increase was for shop assistants, who achieved average wage rises of 9.9 per cent.

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.