[wordup] Immigration to New Zealand: Migrant level raised to meet skill shortages

[Adam Shand]

If anyone is interested in moving to New Zealand this might be useful  
information.  Oh, and the economy is booming, there's a shortage of  
skill workers (including people with IT skills) so it's trivial to  
find work.

The big difference with this is that you no longer require a job  
offer in New Zealand in order to claim points towards immigration for  
your job skills.

You might also find my guide on immigrating helpful:

   http://www.spack.org/wiki/ImmigratingToNewZealand

Adam.

Via: Brett Shand <brett at earthlight...>
From: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00600.htm
Migrant level raised to meet skill shortages

Friday, 30 June 2006, 9:50 am
Press Release: New Zealand Government
Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Immigration

Migrant level raised to meet skill shortages

More new migrants will be welcomed under the New Zealand Residence  
Programme during the next 12 months in response to continued skill  
shortages, Immigration Minister David Cunliffe announced today.

"Up to 52,000 places offered to migrants means more vacancies will be  
filled," Mr Cunliffe said.
"This will help employers who continue to say skill shortages are a  
constraint to the growth of their businesses, and will contribute to  
economic growth."

There will be a minimum of 47,000 and maximum of 52,000 places  
available for the 2006-07 year. This is the highest number since the  
2001-02 year.

"More fundamental changes to the residence programme are being looked  
at by the government for the 2007-08 financial year," the minister said.

"One option being considered is setting the residence programme in  
place for several years at a time."

Mr Cunliffe also announced a policy change that means more skilled  
migrants with work experience in areas of "absolute skill shortage"  
will gain points towards residence in New Zealand.

Effective from 24 July, work experience in countries considered non- 
comparable labour markets, such as India and China, will be  
recognised in areas of absolute skill shortages.
Absolute skill shortages are defined as world-wide shortages that  
show little sign of easing.
"This includes occupations such as IT professionals, plumbers and  
engineers, and will mean we don't miss out on these types of highly  
talented people, no matter where they're from."
Applicants will be required to have recognised qualifications in  
their area of skill, and meet any registration requirements of their  
occupation. They will also need to meet standard immigration criteria.

Backgrounder

What is the New Zealand Residence Programme?

The New Zealand Residence Programme (NZRP) was previously known as  
the New Zealand Immigration Programme (NZIP). The name has been  
changed to more accurately reflect the nature of the programme.

People who wish to migrate permanently to New Zealand must apply  
under one of the programme's three residence streams: Skilled/ 
Business, Family Sponsored, or International/Humanitarian.

Each stream is allocated a percentage of the total number of  
residence places each year. The Skilled/Business Stream approvals  
account for 60 per cent, Family Sponsored 30 per cent and  
International/ Humanitarian 10 per cent.

Within those streams are a number of avenues to residence. The main  
path to residence in the Skilled/Business stream is the Skilled  
Migrant Category  designed to ensure a match between the skills  
migrants bring and the skills New Zealand needs.

The Family Sponsored stream allows migrants in a variety of close  
relationships with New Zealand citizens or residents to qualify for  
residence. This includes sponsorship of partners and children, and in  
some cases, siblings and parents.

The International/Humanitarian stream includes the Refugee Quota, the  
Samoan Quota, the Pacific Access Category, the Refugee Family Quota,  
successful refugee status claimants, and a number of small  
discretionary categories.

Cabinet sets the desired level of residence approvals under the New  
Zealand Residence Programme each year.

For 2006/07 Cabinet has agreed to the following places:

Stream Minimum number of people to be approved Maximum number of  
people to be approved
Skilled/Business 28,200 (60%) 31,000
Family/Sponsored 14,100 (30%) 15,000
International/Humanitarian 4,700 (10%) 6,000
Total 47,000 52,000

How many migrants were approved under the 2005/06 programme?

The number of migrants approved under last year's residence programme  
will be announced by the Minister once end of year figures are  
available.

Last year the government set the residence programme at 45,000, with  
5,000 additional places available if needed. In December, the  
government increased this target to 51,500  in response to high  
demand for places from migrants and continued skills shortage  
pressure on employers.

What is a comparable labour market?

A comparable labour market is one considered closely matched to New  
Zealand's labour market.

Several factors are taken into account when the Department of Labour  
defines a comparable market. These include:

* the employment laws, working conditions and remuneration  
arrangements of the market concerned.
* the structure of the economy in the market.
* the experiences of migrants from the same market in New Zealand   
how successful they have been finding jobs and settling in the country

A number of nation's labour markets are considered to comparable to  
New Zealand's (see list below).

Applicants from these nations are able to claim points for work  
experience in their application for residence under the Skilled  
Migrant Category.

What has changed?

The comparable labour market policy remains in place. However, the  
policy change will mean more applicants from non-comparable countries  
will have their work experience recognised.

Before today's policy change, applicants with work experience in non- 
comparable markets could only claim points if they gained this  
experience in a multinational company or if they had a job offer from  
a New Zealand employer.

The policy change announced today means that applicants from non- 
comparable labour markets may also claim points for their work  
experience if their skills are critically needed in New Zealand.

Their skills must be in an occupation listed in the 'Long Term Skills  
Shortages List'. This list is complied by the Department of Labour in  
consultation with other government agencies and employment and union  
groups.

The list includes occupations considered to have a sustained and  
absolute shortage of labour.
In order to claims points, these applicants must also meet the  
qualification requirements of their occupation  in addition to  
standard immigration criteria.

Why is the comparable labour market policy required?

In 2003 the Labour-led government made some changes to the way  
skilled people could qualify for residence in New Zealand. These  
changes were made to ensure migrants coming to New Zealand were able  
to settle as successfully as possible in the country's workforce and  
communities.

As part of these changes, the comparable labour market policy was  
introduced. The policy is designed to make sure that a migrant's  
skills and experience closely match New Zealand's labour needs.

A person who has experience in a market similar to New Zealand's will  
find it easier to find a job and settle successfully.

What countries are considered comparable?

Australia Malaysia
Austria New Zealand
Belgium-Luxembourg Netherlands
Canada Norway
Cyprus Philippines
Denmark Portugal
Finland Republic of South Korea
France Singapore
Germany South Africa
Greece Spain
Iceland Sweden
Ireland Switzerland
Israel United Kingdom
Italy United States
Japan