New Zealand needs skilled workers, which presents significant opportunities for those considering a move to build an exciting and prosperous new life. The tiny nation of 5.2 million has a booming economy, but many industries desperately need fresh talent and skilled workers to fill vacancies and help companies expand.
Because of the strong need for capable workers who can benefit New Zealand’s economy, the nation has a special priority type of shortlist for granting newcomers a work visa, known as the Green List. Getting on this list is a fast track to starting a new, high-paying career in New Zealand. For skilled workers who qualify for a job on the Green List and have the credit and knowledge requirements, residence may be granted immediately or after two years of living and working in New Zealand. Other skill shortage lists, such as the Canterbury skill shortage list, are also highly helpful in finding and securing long-term employment in New Zealand.
What are Skill Shortage Lists?
New Zealand has various skills shortage lists to keep track of the shortages in different career categories as well as across regions and types of employment categories. New Zealand’s skill shortage lists are a way for the government to keep track of which professions it has the highest shortage of and needs more of. Each skill shortage list tracks shortages in different areas, job categories, and employment categorizations. Those who fit the roles may qualify for various visas, including the essential skills work visa.
This is part of the New Zealand qualifications framework to ensure the country has the workers it needs to keep its economy healthy and thriving. Ensuring the right worker gets a work visa is a key aim of these lists, as well as how they inform government decision-making.
Definition and Purpose
The purpose of the Immigration New Zealand list is to fill any skill shortage that exists among a wide range of job and vocational categories. New Zealand’s skill shortage lists cover many types of employment, contract or salary categorization, and look at short-term and long-term skill shortages to anticipate and preempt the nation’s future needs. By keeping a list of a skilled migrant category in many different positions, the government can fast-track those who best suit the nation’s needs and plans for growth to give them a residence visa and make their transition to life in New Zealand as smooth as possible.
Types of Lists
The New Zealand qualifications authority keeps various types of lists stating specific assessments regarding the type of skilled workers needed. These include a long-term skill shortage list (LTSSL), a regional skill shortage list (RSSL), and other particular lists that track New Zealand’s employment sectors that need more skilled workers. This includes an immediate skill shortage list (ISSL) to prioritize the types of skilled workers needed by the New Zealand economy. Each skill shortage list is different and pertains to various professions and skill sectors across New Zealand. There is also a list related to essential sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, which can be utilized to get an essential skills work visa.
How the Lists are Determined
To create a skill shortage list, the government considers the economic situation and outlook for the short and long term across various employment categories. They look at the sectors in the highest demand and then make lists of the specific roles and needs for skilled workers within each role. This information is then put on the Green List for potential migrants to look at and see if they meet the requirements for the positions in question.
From arts and media to the construction industry, healthcare, IT, education, and agriculture to transport, manufacturing, and telecommunications, New Zealand is one of the most attractive countries for immigrants, welcoming 173,000 newcomers last year alone.
Sectors with High Demand
Various sectors in New Zealand’s economy are especially in high demand. Those on the skill shortage list in these sectors have a much greater chance of obtaining an essential skills work visa and being placed on Tier 1 of the Green List, qualifying them for an immediate residence visa. Those who are on Tier 2, by contrast, only qualify to become a permanent resident after two years of living and working in New Zealand. That’s why being qualified in a high-demand sector is an ideal way to be fast-tracked for immigration and legally working in New Zealand. The following sectors rank high on New Zealand’s skill shortage list and have an especially high demand in the national economy.
Healthcare
New Zealand’s healthcare industry is in high need of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, specialists, allied health professionals, and those who work with the elderly. Caregivers, support workers, homecare providers, and nurses specializing in treating and caring for the elderly are particularly needed. It is important to obtain or have a New Zealand certificate in healthcare or a certificate that is recognized and able to be certified within New Zealand. For mental healthcare professionals, those who can be certified by the New Zealand Psychologists Board will also be prioritized in the high-demand mental health field, particularly if they look at the regional skill shortage list and see a mental health professional is especially sought after in a particular region of New Zealand.
Engineering
Another sector with high demand in New Zealand’s economy is engineering, especially those with an engineering degree in civil engineering, electronic engineering, and related fields. Civil engineers are highly sought after, especially those who handle infrastructure, construction, and project management projects. There is also a strong need for electrical engineers who specialize in maintaining and repairing power systems, electronics, and telecommunications. Lastly, mechanical engineers in manufacturing, design, and maintenance are also in high demand on New Zealand’s Green List.
Construction
New Zealand’s construction industry is also suffering a skill shortage in certain areas and categories, and carpenters with experience in residential and commercial construction are needed. Construction project management is an especially lucrative role highly sought after in New Zealand. They also need plumbers with experience installing and maintaining plumbing systems and electricians who are adept at completing wiring and electrical work for commercial or residential projects. Despite its relatively small population for its large land mass, New Zealand has a vast housing shortage, and skilled workers who can help alleviate the housing crisis are in high demand and well-paid.
Information Technology (IT)
The information technology sector (IT) and computer science field is another area with many vacancies in New Zealand and enormous growth potential. The country particularly needs those familiar with business information systems and software developers who can design, develop, and test software applications on a range of computer systems. They’re also searching for ICT project managers skilled at planning, executing, and following through on high-caliber IT projects and working with internet technology and web development. Software development is a growing industry in New Zealand, as is communications technology as a whole. Positions like engineering technologists are highly sought, and network engineers who can design, implement, and maintain network infrastructure are also in high demand.
Education
New Zealand’s education industry also needs skilled workers, especially secondary school teachers, early childhood educators, and special education teachers who can support and work with students with special needs. Those who can obtain a New Zealand graduate diploma or translate their own home country accreditation into New Zealand requirements are ideal for educational roles. High school teachers are needed in various subject areas, while early childhood educators with background checks who are qualified and skilled at working with children are in high demand.
Electronics and Computer Engineering
Electronics and computer engineering are other areas in New Zealand that offer many opportunities. For those with an engineering technology degree, this sector can be an ideal way to start a career in New Zealand and get involved in electronics and communication engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, computer systems engineering, computing, and mathematical sciences training.
Those with chartered professional engineer status will be especially well regarded and likely to obtain a visa, as will those trained in automotive electrical engineering, mobile systems engineering, and computing and mathematical sciences. The field of computer and electronic engineering is a growing sector in New Zealand and offers many opportunities for newcomers with the right qualifications who are on the right skill shortage lists to be high up on the Green List.
Agriculture
New Zealand’s agricultural industry is another area with critical skills shortages and has many prominent roles on the skill shortage list. This includes positions in farm management overseeing and managing agricultural operations and farms, as well as dairy farm positions looking after dairy cattle. There are also several positions seeking horticulturalists who grow and manage crops. These can quickly lead to a new life and residency visa in New Zealand via an accredited employer work visa.
Benefits of Working in a Skill Shortage Area
There are many benefits of working in a skill shortage area. Those who qualify for one of the roles on the skill shortage lists are generally qualified by the Green List as Tier 1, meaning they are often fast-forwarded straight to residency in New Zealand. Working in a skill shortage area also often translates into higher wages because the skill shortage areas are often sectors of the New Zealand economy that are growing or becoming more profitable.
Job Opportunities
There are increased chances of securing employment in New Zealand for those whose job qualifications fit under the Tier 1 category of the Green List in terms of roles the nation is trying to fill. Obtaining a work visa can be challenging for many individuals looking to emigrate from their home country and find better opportunities abroad. New Zealand is one country where those with a strong work ethic and the dedication to seeing their dreams come true can achieve enormous success and find a job that is well-suited to their talents and career goals.
Visa Pathways
Working with New Zealand’s Green List and obtaining a work visa under the skilled migrant category is a faster, cheaper, and better way to go to New Zealand and start a new life. Completing an international qualification assessment can help potential immigrants determine whether or not their skills are sought after and whether they are likely to quickly obtain a visa in the event of immigrating to New Zealand.
Salary Potential
Highly competitive salaries are available for skilled workers who meet the roles on New Zealand’s Green List. Those who qualify for an essential skills work visa are among the most well-paid and most likely to be approved quickly under the government’s point system. Other industries, like computer and electronic engineering, as well as electronics and communications engineering, are already highly paid globally. New Zealand also pays educators, healthcare workers, IT professionals in computer and information services, and blue-collar workers well.
Career Progression
Whether or not somebody has a postgraduate diploma, New Zealand’s Green List provides many opportunities for promotions and a higher salary. There are many career paths where it is possible to work up to higher positions, such as project manager, through dedication and commitment. Whether working in network engineering, systems development, agriculture, electronics and communication engineering, education, construction, or healthcare, New Zealand has opportunities for a broad range of newcomers who are willing to work hard and contribute to the nation’s economy.
How to Use the Skill Shortage List
Using the New Zealand skill shortage list is a matter of checking which category is most desired in terms of job category, including the regional skill shortage list, the immediate skill shortage list, and the short or long-term skill shortage list. Searching the Green List can also be done by using a specific keyword or category.
Skill Shortage List Checker
Immigration New Zealand has a service that checks if an occupation is in demand. It uses a points system to score potential migrants under their respective job categories as skilled workers. By checking the skill shortage list, would-be migrants and New Zealand residents can ensure they meet the particular New Zealand registration requirements and are accredited and recognized by Immigration New Zealand.
Immigration Pathways
For the Tier 1 direct-to-work and residency visa, you must be under 55 years old and have a job offer in New Zealand from a recognized employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand. Any dependent kids under 24 years old have to be single and have no kids of their own while also relying on you for financial support. The Tier 1 work visa can be applied for outside New Zealand or once you’re already working in New Zealand under any other category.
The Tier 2 work visa is available if you have an official job offer from an accredited company in New Zealand and have worked in that Tier 2 role for at least two business years, either inside or outside the country. This employment must be full-time in nature and be compatible with New Zealand registration requirements.
Job Search Strategies
Finding employment in skill shortage areas in New Zealand is a matter of using the available tools carefully and paying attention to detail. In particular, it is worth studying the areas of the economy and country with a long-term skill shortage, as these opportunities will last into the future and provide the most benefits and sustainability.
Skills Assessment
Certain requirements must be met to prove qualifications matching the needs of roles listed on the skill shortage list. Immigration New Zealand will conduct a skills assessment and look at accreditations from various globally recognized bodies, such as the International Engineering Alliance, a Sydney Accord accredited undergraduate, or a Seoul Accord accredited undergraduate. Any diploma or accreditation recognized in New Zealand will increase the chances of a successful application under the skill shortage list and the Green List system.
Additional Considerations
In addition to the above considerations for a work visa in New Zealand, there are a few other important matters to remember when seeking a job through the skill shortage list in New Zealand.
Regional Variations
Each skill shortage list is different and tends to vary across different regions of New Zealand. The skill shortage list has a category for this, which considers the particular needs in various regions of New Zealand. Not every job is located in Auckland or Christchurch, and various rural and less well-known areas of New Zealand have particular economic needs. This allows potential migrants and workers who want to come to or settle in New Zealand to consider the skill shortage list with a specific eye to where their skills match the economic needs of a particular region.
Emerging Trends
There are various emerging trends to consider and pay attention to when it comes to New Zealand’s skill shortage list, with industries with a growing demand for skilled workers. Approximately 40,000 new employment opportunities are created or opened up per year in New Zealand, and these are often reflected on the Green List.
The top growing industries in New Zealand are accommodation and hospitality, food production and service, retail, and new construction. General manufacturing and transport and logistical services are also emerging trends in terms of growth in the New Zealand economy and generally figure high up on the skill shortage list and needs of the Green List. There are also plenty of jobs in computer systems engineering, IT, and high technology that follow global technology and systems growth trends.
Leveraging New Zealand’s Skill Shortage List for Visa Opportunities
It’s crucial to meet the required standards for New Zealand’s Green List to ensure immigration and residency take place as smoothly as possible. Understanding and using the skill shortage list to ensure proper qualifications and obtain a work visa is an excellent way to build a better and more prosperous life.