We have all read the constant barrage of headlines regarding the international housing and financial crash and increasing unemployment. The term “recession” is now commonplace in day to day language.
Last week, the Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark announced that when and where necessary, jobs should be given to kiwis and not migrant workers. In this respect, nothing in policy has changed. It has always been necessary to prove that there is no-one in New Zealand available to fill the position offered before a work permit can be issued. The Prime Ministers comments however, were targeted at those on short term work permits ie: those issued for less than six months duration (as defined by immigration policy). Realistically these types of permits are issued to unskilled or semi-skilled labour.
Due to the extreme labour shortages that New Zealand has experienced whilst trying to compete on the international labour market and due to record low unemployment, even unskilled and semi skilled positions could not be filled from within New Zealand and short term work permits were duly issued to migrants seeking to fill these positions. In my opinion, it is these types of short term work permits to which the Prime Minister’s comments were targeted.
It is not reasonable to expect that the demand for skilled professionals in all industries will disappear, as New Zealand is now also experiencing record numbers of emigration from New Zealand to Australia. Whilst certainly some industries have been and will continue to be more effected in the recession than others (construction, property, finance and retail), other areas continue to experience labour shortages. These include health, education and manufacturing.
In addition, some regions are bucking the trend altogether. Wellington for example has accounted for almost all of the national job growth this year.
Although it is not possible to ignore the economic downturn and ongoing recession, unlike many other countries, New Zealand is reasonably well insulated to deal with it. In addition, Helen Clark confirmed last week that despite the recession the residence quotas would remain the same. This indicates that the ongoing need for migrants in New Zealand is well recognized, not only for the future when the world climbs out of recession, but now when stimulating the economy is essential.
If anything, in the global crisis that surrounds us, New Zealand can be seen as even more attractive. The old saying of “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” has never before been so apt and I, for one, am thankful for living in little old New Zealand at this time of uncertainty.
Jay Shadforth
Immigration Law Advocates Ltd.
Immigration Adviser Licence: 200800094
Sponsor of Wanna Be A Kiwi.com
Global Financial Crisis - What Does It Mean For Me As A Migrant? 
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