WELLINGTON, Jun 13 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand saw a net migration gain of 72,300 in the year ending in Apr, with net migration marking six months of continued growth, the statistics department, Stats NZ, said today.
There was a net gain of 98,400 non-New Zealand citizens in the cited period, Stats NZ, said.
The continued growth in net migration, shows the government’s immigration rebalance is working, as it tackles labour shortages, Immigration Minister, Michael Wood, said.
“We know many industries have been calling out for workers, as the global labour shortage bites, and we want our immigration settings to be responsive to that, while still helping to deliver a more productive, high wage economy,” Wood said.
The government’s immigration rebalance has lifted pay requirements for migrant workers, to ensure they are treated fairly, and requires advertising for New Zealand workers, before a migrant worker is sought, he said.
“Ultimately we want to train as many New Zealanders, to fill labour shortages as possible, but in the short term it has been necessary to rely more on migrant workers than we otherwise would, to plug workforce gaps,” said the minister.
This is a positive sign that New Zealand is getting the workers that its economy needs to thrive and grow, Wood said.– NNN-XINHUA
