Constructions workers shortage now critical in New Zealand.
Ever since the news raised the issue, the skill shortage in the construction industry has only been getting worse. And the trend is looking grim for New Zealand employers who are struggling to find the right skillset to run their business.
NZ needs more than 50,000 construction workers by 2022 to meet demand
With an expected growth of 11 per cent between 2016 and 2022 for the construction industry as a whole, industry body New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) said builders were feeling strained from the amount of work and some companies were booked until 2019. This is driving prices (and possibly salaries) up. And the shortage is both for professionals and technicians.
Training not sufficient
We last suggested a student pathway for migrants interest in studying construction-related subjects in New Zealand. For example, UNITEC's Graduate Diploma in Construction Management is a level 7 course that offers great employment prospects.
Training the locals is not nearly enough to meet a demand for workers that is only going to keep increasing in the next 4 years. MBIE (the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)) confirmed that demand for builders and related tradies is set to increase until at least 2022, with a forecast of up to 60,000 additional workers needed by then. This is where your talents as a skilled migrant can make a difference and offer you pathway to residence.
In December 2017 Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway announced seven construction-related occupations were added to the immediate skills shortage list. The Government also took its first steps on the Kiwibuild programme, aiming to build 100,000 new homes over the next 10 years.
Figures from Immigration New Zealand show nearly 16,500 technician and trades visas were issued compared to around 13,700 professional visas.
