Subtitle: Fast-track to Residency: 17 Occupations Added to Immigration Green List for Foreign Workers
New Zealand’s government has recently taken steps to address the growing skills shortages in various industries by expanding its Immigration Green List. This expansion will provide a fast track to residency for foreign workers in 17 specialized occupations, making New Zealand more attractive as it competes for overseas talent.
Starting from next year, employers in sectors such as information technology, automotive, and engineering can opt for Green List visas when seeking to fill specialist roles if local New Zealand workers are not available. Some of the newly added occupations include prison guards, welders, aviation engineers, database and systems administrators, panel beaters, road-roller operators, and vehicle painters.
This strategic move was announced by Immigration Minister Andrew Little during a press conference held in Wellington. He states that the ongoing pandemic has widened the skills gap across different industries in New Zealand and offering residency through the expanded Green List is expected to attract more foreign workers into the country.
From July last year to July this year, the number of immigrants in New Zealand reached a record high, generating incomes for 135,000 foreigners. While immigrants could help ease pressure on the labor market, they also made the Bank concerned about the strain that increased demand might put on.
Expanding Opportunities and Addressing Skill Shortages in New Zealand
In addition to the expanded Green List, the government has created a separate list for seven construction and infrastructure-related occupations such as machine operators and road-traffic controllers. This list permits employers within those sectors to recruit migrants at a lower wage threshold compared to the standard work visa requirements.
The addition of job titles like aviation engineers, corrections officers, vehicle painters, and naval architects opens up new opportunities for foreign talent in more industries. According to Minister Little’s statement, “From next year the ICT, automotive and engineering sectors will have the option of Green List visas when they need to fill specialist skilled roles when a New Zealand worker cannot be found.”
New Zealand’s expanded Immigration Green List is expected to strengthen the country’s economy by addressing the critical skills shortages currently faced in various sectors. By providing a path to residency for valuable foreign workers, New Zealand hopes to not only attract top global talent but also ensure sustainable growth and development for its domestic industries in the years to come.
Conclusion
New Zealand’s expansion of its Immigration Green List is a strategic move to alleviate skills shortages in various industries, making the country more attractive to foreign workers. The introduction of Green List visas for specialist roles in sectors such as information technology, automotive and engineering will benefit both employers and prospective foreign employees. Additionally, the inclusion of more occupations in the construction and infrastructure sector’s separate list aims to facilitate recruitment at lower wage thresholds. Overall, these measures should contribute to easing New Zealand’s labor market pressures and foster economic growth.
FAQs
- What is the Immigration Green List in New Zealand?
A: The Immigration Green List is a special list of occupations that allow foreign workers to fast-track their residency in New Zealand.
- Which new occupations have been added to the Green List?
A: New occupations include prison guards, welders, aviation engineers, database and systems administrators, panel beaters, road-roller operators, and vehicle painters, among others.
- When will the new Green List visas be available?
A: The new Green List visas will be available to employers from next year.
- Which sectors can benefit from the Green List visas?
A: Employers in information technology, automotive, and engineering sectors will benefit from the option of Green List visas when filling specialist roles where a New Zealand worker cannot be found.
- Are there any other changes to immigration policies regarding construction and infrastructure sectors?
A: Yes, seven occupations including machine operators and road-traffic controllers have been added to a separate list that enables employers in construction and infrastructure sectors to recruit migrants at a lower wage threshold than normal work visas allow.
