Skills shortages in New Zealand are at their lowest since 1999. Although this might not be the best news for would-be migrants, it is certainly good news for employers. For a number of years now, New Zealand’s employers have found great difficulty in securing the services of appropriately skilled workers.
Figures from the Departments of Labour show that while unemployment remains at historically low levels, it has also become significantly easier for employers to find both skilled and unskilled labour.
The easing of skill shortages is the mainly the result of:
- Slowing economic growth, which has led to a fall in growth in labour demand.
- Robust growth in labour supply over the last year, driven by a recovery in net migration inflows and record high labour force participation rates.
Social Development and Employment Minister David Benson-Pope commented:
“While the situation will continue to improve, this remains an important issue for New Zealand businesses. Employers can lessen their impact by upskilling staff and providing flexible workplaces with good work/life balance.”
Despite this good news for employers, the good news for potential migrants is that skill shortages remain a major issue in the New Zealand economy. Indicators of shortage are still well above historical averages.