The Department of Labour has surveyed skills shortages in New Zealand and discovered the country’s employers are crying out for skilled people.
How are skill shortages defined?
If, after around 8 weeks, less than 80 percent of advertised jobs are filled by a qualified person, the skill is classed as a shortage skill.
The Skills Situation
New Zealand’s skills shortages are growing more severe.
Fill rates for professional occupations are now just 45 percent while technician’s fill rates are 42 percent and trades people fill rates even worse at 36 percent.
The situation is considerably worse than two years ago when professional and technician vacancies enjoyed fill rates of around 70 percent and trades vacancies were filled at 48 percent.
Particularly bad shortages (fill rates below 20 percent) have now been discovered for structural engineers, psychiatric nurses, civil engineering technicians, finance and sales associate professionals, architects, engineers and related professionals, coach builders, and electrical / electronic instrument mechanics / fitters.
The complete list of fill rates is as follows:
| Job | % of vacancies filled |
| Systems Analyst | 67% |
| Computer Applications Engineer | 78% |
| Systems Manager | 46% |
| Resource Management Planner | 28% |
| Structural Engineer | 18% |
| Other Mechanical Engineer | 28% |
| Physician | 20% |
| Veterinarian | 31% |
| Principal Nurse | 58% |
| Registered Nurse | 30% |
| Psychiatric Nurse | 13% |
| Midwife | 21% |
| University and Higher Education Lecturer and/or Tutor | 48% |
| Secondary School Teacher | 83% |
| Primary School Teacher | 86% |
| Early Childhood Teacher | 43% |
| Education Adviser | 78% |
| Accountant | 60% |
| Human Resources Officer | 58% |
| Training and Development Officer | 55% |
| Market Research Analyst | 62% |
| Public Relations Officer | 55% |
| Financial Adviser | 28% |
| Barrister and Solicitor | 45% |
| Librarian | 69% |
| Policy Analyst | 53% |
| Counsellor | 62% |
| Physical Science Technician | 63% |
| Quantity Surveyor | 25% |
| Other Civil Engineering Technician | 14% |
| Mechanical Engineering Technician | 29% |
| Draughting Technician | 31% |
| Computer Support Technician | 84% |
| Medical Radiation Technologist | 27% |
| Safety Inspector | 53% |
| Physiotherapist | 44% |
| Occupational Therapist | 21% |
| Enrolled Nurse | 21% |
| Travel Consultant | 20% |
| Organisation and Methods Analyst | 65% |
| Social Worker | 52% |
| Teacher Aide | 79% |
| Graphic Designer | 25% |
| Sports Coach or Trainer | 41% |
| Bricklayer and/or Blocklayer | 42% |
| Carpenter and/or Joiner | 34% |
| Builder (Including Contractor) | 45% |
| Boatbuilder | 39% |
| Plasterer | 45% |
| Glazier | 30% |
| Plumber | 29% |
| Painter, Decorator and/or Paperhanger | 53% |
| Spray Painter | 60% |
| Sign Writer | 41% |
| Electrician | 30% |
| Transport Electrician | 29% |
| Coach Builder | 18% |
| Sheet-Metal Worker | 23% |
| Fitter and Welder | 44% |
| Panel Beater | 30% |
| Fitter and Turner | 27% |
| Machinery Mechanic | 21% |
| Motor Mechanic | 43% |
| Heating, Ventilation and Refrigeration Mechanic | 48% |
| Printing Machinist | 61% |
| Butcher | 62% |
| Baker | 37% |
| Cabinet Maker | 40% |
| Carpet and Other Floor Covering Layer | 22% |
| Computing Professionals | 66% |
| Architects, Engineers and Related Professionals | 16% |
| Life Science Professionals | 74% |
| Health Professionals (except Nursing) | 45% |
| Nursing and Midwifery Professionals | 29% |
| Tertiary Teaching Professionals | 48% |
| Secondary Teaching Professionals | 83% |
| Primary and Early Childhood Teaching Professionals | 86% |
| Special Education Teaching Professionals | 67% |
| Other Teaching Professionals | 74% |
| Business Professionals | 54% |
| Legal Professionals | 47% |
| Archivists, Librarians and Related | 70% |
| Social and Related Science Professionals | 57% |
| Physical Science and Engineering Technicians | 45% |
| Computer Equipment Controllers | 56% |
| Optical and Electronic Equipment Controllers | 51% |
| Safety and Health Inspectors | 42% |
| Life Science Technicians and Related Workers | 81% |
| Health Associate Professionals | 50% |
| Nursing Associate Professionals | 21% |
| Finance and Sales Associate Professionals | 14% |
| Administrative Associate Professionals | 55% |
| Social Work Associate Professionals | 70% |
| Writers, Artists, Entertainment and Sports Associate Professionals |
34% |
| Building Frame and Related Trades Workers | 41% |
| Building Finishers and Related Trades Workers | 46% |
| Electricians | 34% |
| Metal Moulders, Sheet-Metal and Related Workers | 33% |
| Blacksmiths, Toolmakers and Related Workers | 22% |
| Machinery Mechanics and Fitters | 34% |
| Electrical and Electronic Instrument Mechanics and Fitters |
13% |
| Printing Trades Workers | 48% |
| Food and Related Products Processing Trades Workers | 48% |
| Cabinet Makers and Related Workers | 40% |
| Tailors and Dressmakers | 26% |