Skill shortage list overhauled May 2019
After announcing the creation of a Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List earlier this year to support the New Zealand construction industry, Immigration New Zealand is continuing its review and is replacing the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL). INZ is thus adopting a more regional approach to skill shortages.
What are the changes?
The lists are reviewed on a regular basis. This time around, the ISSL is abandoned and replaced with the new Regional Skill Shortage List. Like the now obsolete ISSL, if your occupation features on the list and you meet the requirements for this occupation, when assessing a visa application, Immigration New Zealand will be satisfied that there are no New Zealanders to fill the role, the requirement for your employer to advertise will be waived nationwide or for certain regions.
What this means for you
If you meet the qualification and/or work experience requirements of the lists, this means your Essential Skills Work visa application is likely to be facilitated by this new measure.
When is the list applicable from?
These changes are going live on 27 May 2019.
What are the changes?
Changes to the Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage list
- Construction Project Manager Roading and Infrastructure (amended to extend the listing to include building Construction Project Managers)
- Building Associate (added)
- Plumber (extended the listing to nationwide)
- Stonemason (no longer in shortage in Canterbury, but remains on the regional list for Auckland and Northland)
Changes to the new Regional Skill Shortage List
- Early Childhood Teacher, Primary School Teacher and Secondary School Teacher (added)
- Construction Project Manager Roading and Infrastructure (removed from this new list as this is also listed on the LTSSL)
