Well qualified and experienced professionals are needed in New Zealand. The occupations on the Essential Skills in Demand Lists recognise the need for overseas professionals in different industries and areas of New Zealand.
- The Long Term Skill Shortages List
- The Regional Skill Shortages List
- The Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortages List
Many industries in New Zealand experience ongoing shortages of skilled professionals, and as a result businesses are unable to fill key positions and thrive to their full potential.
To enable New Zealand's economy to grow, New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) identifies these skill shortages based on feedback from key industries and publishes their findings in three Skill Shortages Lists.
The Skill Shortages Lists are reviewed regularly, with updated contributions from various industry groups.
The lists are relevant for your visa application and also play an essential role for your job search in New Zealand.
Find out if your skills are listed in one of the Skill Shortages Lists.
If you can find your occupation on one of the Skill Shortages Lists, you will have a decisive advantage for your visa application and potentially for your job search as well.
The Long Term Skill Shortage List identifies occupations where there is a sustained and on-going shortage of highly skilled workers throughout New Zealand. This list covers shortages across the whole country, not by specific region, unlike the Regional Skill Shortage List.
The Regional Skill Shortage List names particular regions of New Zealand. It includes occupations where skilled workers are immediately required and no New Zealanders available to take up the position.
This means that you are permitted to work in New Zealand temporarily. You won’t necessarily be able to apply for residence.
The Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List identifies specific occupations needed in the construction industry across New Zealand.
If your skills are on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, they are considered to be "in an area of absolute skill shortage" and as a result you will be able to claim bonus points for your Expression of Interest.
You will be eligible for:
If your occupation is listed on the Skill Shortage Lists, your New Zealand employer will not have to prove that no New Zealander can be found to fill the role offered to you.
This will obviously be a considerable advantage, as labour market testing is a highly complex and bureaucratic process.
If you have held a work visa that was granted under the Long Term Skill Shortage List policy, you may be able to apply for a resident visa.
To be eligible for a resident visa under this policy, you must:
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