Essential Skills In Demand Lists Latest Review

The results of the latest review of Department of Labour’s Essential Skills in Demand Lists have been released.

The Department of Labour regularly reviews the Essential Skills in Demand Lists so that they are responsive to the needs and requirements of the New Zealand workforce and economy.

The two lists maintained by the Department of Labour are the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) which includes occupations that are in immediate demand in the New Zealand labour market; and the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) which includes highly skilled occupations that are in long term and global shortage.

In the current review, five agricultural science occupations were added to the LTSSL. These included Agricultural Scientist (Farm Systems Scientist), Biotechnologist (Genetics Scientist) and Environmental Research Scientist (Water Quality Analyst).

Some teaching occupations were removed from the lists, including Secondary School Teacher and Early Childhood Teacher from the LTSSL; and Primary School Teacher and Early Childhood Teacher (Montessori) from the ISSL.

General Manager Labour and Immigration Research Centre Vasantha Krishnan says that New Zealand has skill shortages in certain areas that may need to be filled by people from overseas. Ensuring these occupations are on the Essential Skills in Demand Lists is one way to help NZ employers source these skilled migrants.

“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”, says Ms Krishnan.

Information on the review process, including the timing of the opening of expressions of interest for the next Essential Skills in Demand Lists review is available on the Department’s website: www.immigration.govt.nz/essentialskills