Prison guards, welders, and aviation engineers are among the 17 professions that New Zealand is adding to its Immigration Green List, which offers a quick path to residency.
Immigration Minister Andrew Little announced Saturday in Wellington that starting in 2019, firms in industries like information technology, automotive, and engineering will have the option of Green List visas when they need to fill a specialty function and a New Zealand worker cannot be located. They have also been added panel beaters, road-roller operators, database and system administrators and vehicle painters to the list.
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Since the pandemic led to a skills gap in a number of businesses, the list has grown. The government anticipates that by providing residency, New Zealand will stand out from the competition for overseas labour.
A net 135,000 immigrants entered New Zealand in the year up to July, a record number for the country’s immigration. Although the added demand may increase inflation pressure, the Treasury Department has stated that the arrivals have helped to relieve pressure on the labour market.
The government also added seven jobs to a different list, including machine operators and traffic controllers, allowing firms in the infrastructure and construction industries to hire immigrants at a lower wage threshold than the typical work visa permits.
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