Changes to New Zealand Immigration Skills Shortage List

03 January 2012

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Agricultural science jobs have now been added to New Zealand's Long Term Skills Shortage List; At the same time a number of teaching occupations have been removed.

New Zealand's Department of Labour regularly reviews the Essential Skills in Demand Lists in order to remain responsive to the needs of New Zealand employers and the economy. The lists include the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL), the Immediate Skill Shortage List and the Canterbury Skill Shortage List. The Canterbury Skill Shortage List was recently created in response to the rebuilding requirements following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the Canterbury region in February 2011.

"Regular reviews of the lists are important to ensure that the Department's policy is flexible and responsive as the economy continues to experience volatility and fluctuations to the labour market," Vasantha Krishnan, general manager of the Labour and Immigration Research Centre explained.

The following occupations were added to the LTSSL:

• Agricultural Scientist (Farm Systems Scientist)
• Social Professional nec (Applied Social Scientist)
• Life Scientist nec (Animal Scientist or Bioinformatics)
• Biotechnologist (Genetics Scientist), and
• Environmental Research Scientist (Water Quality Analyst).

The occupations removed from the LTSSL were:

• Secondary School Teacher, and
• Early Childhood (Pre-primary School Teacher).

The LTSSL identifies occupations that have an ongoing shortage of skilled workers throughout New Zealand. Immigrants who gain employment in one of these occupations may be granted a work visa.

To emigrate to New Zealand under the Skilled Migrant Category you should firstly make sure that you gain at least one hundred points under the points test. You can claim 50-60 points for an existing job or a job offer in New Zealand that requires specialist, technical, or management expertise. You can also score points for various points scoring criteria such as age, experience, employability, qualifications, etc. If you think that you will score at least one hundred points it may be worth submitting an Expression of Interest under the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category.

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