IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? New Zealand’s government has made changes to the Skills Match Report process to help employers identify which New Zealanders are available to work.

Key Points:

  • In response to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the labor market, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) generated lists of occupations and regions with an oversupply or undersupply of New Zealanders who are receiving Job Seeker Support. The lists will be used beginning Oct. 7.
  • Employers do not need to obtain a Skills Match report for jobs paying less than the national median wage, which is $25.50 per hour, if there is an undersupply of New Zealand job seekers for those positions or the regions where they are located. Within the same context of an undersupply of New Zealand job seekers for certain occupations or regions, employers that can demonstrate they made a sincere effort to publicly advertise a new job to make it known to New Zealanders who are looking for work are allowed to support a migrant work visa application.
  • Employers can work directly with the Ministry of Social Development for the occupations and regions where there is an oversupply of New Zealand job seekers on Job Seeker support who are available for employment.
  • For occupations or regions that are not on the oversupply or undersupply lists, the process remains unchanged, meaning a Skills Match Report is required for an employer to hire a migrant for a job that pays less than the national median wage.

Additional Information: The oversupply and undersupply lists are a temporary measure which will be reviewed in the beginning of 2021, or sooner, depending on conditions within the labor market. Immigration New Zealand will confirm whether or not an occupation is on the undersupply or oversupply list by using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO version 1.2). The process to obtain a Skills Match Report has not changed.

Analysis & Comments: The government’s temporary use of oversupply and undersupply lists is intended to help New Zealanders who are out of work obtain new jobs. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

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