The number of people coming to this country on work visas is gathering pace.
The latest figures from Statistics NZ show that 1222 people arrived in the country on work visas in August, which is the highest number since border restrictions were introduced to combat the Covid pandemic in March 2020.
The numbers are still well down compared to pre-pandemic levels, when more than 4000 people a month arrived on work visas between September 2019 and February 2020.
However, overseas worker arrivals are now increasing rapidly, rising from 527 in May to 571 in June, 696 in July and 1222 in August.
If that trend continues the numbers could be back up to pre-pandemic levels of around 4000 a month by the end of the year.
However, migration appeared to make very little difference to this country's total population in August, with Statistics NZ estimating that the number of people leaving long term and those arriving long term were roughly the same.
Statistics NZ's provisional estimates are that 7851 people left NZ long term in August and 7804 arrived long term, giving a net gain of just 47 for the month.
There was an estimated net loss of 1589 NZ citizens for the month (2225 long term arrivals minus 3814 long term departures), which was balanced by a net gain of 1637 non-NZ citizens (7851 arrivals and 7804 departures).
Overseas student arrivals remained very low for the month at just 532 in August, but those numbers are not expected to improve significantly until the end of the year as students start to arrive for the start of the 2023 academic year.
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Net long term migration
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18 Comments
The number of people coming to this country on work visas is gathering pace.
Excellent !
It's like when the Millenium Falcon turns up.
We didn't make enough babies. And lots of citizens emiggrate at some point.
Just get robots to do it and I'll push a button that says "make car" and it'll turn up on its own.
In my opinion is economics is a doubled edged sword.
- Could be excellent for employers who will be able to hold off on pay rises due to an increased work force.
- Could be bad for employees who will have less bargaining power to keep up with the cost of living
This is very simple supply and demand theory.
I've for the first time in my working life (I'm just over 50), been able to negotiate in my favour, and in fact walked out of one job and didn't even have to knock on anyone's door before I was offered better terms for employment. I have also been offered three other jobs since.
I believe for the average semi-skilled person this would be the first time since the 1970s that one has been able to do that
Totally concur from the same position. Last two years contract negotiations were so much nicer and more productive. fed farmers and dairynz must really loath people like me they spend so much time and money lobbying to undermine my position. 2easy years out of 35.
Run best and brightest, run! It's going to be a dystopia of getting things done in a half reasonable timeframe.
I'll wager the average immigrant works better and more efficiently than the average Kiwi.
I'll wager the skillsets being lost vs. the skills being introduced are nowhere near the equivalent either .
You haven't worked with the migrants I have to work with - they are job creation schemes all on their own.
Long-term outward migration of Kiwis has ticked up to over 10k to year ended Aug 2022.
Our government and businesses don't care because this exodus of locals will certainly be offset by other channels of labour supply [exact words used by MBIE].
In the same token, I have seen tons of kiwis arriving in Australia to start new life here!
I was at Brisbane Airport on Saturday, half the arrivals first impression was "whoa it's so warm and sunny.."
Hope there's a decent tandoori chef amongst them. The last 10,000 didn't seem to improve my local.
Ditto for kebabs.
In September there was a net inflow of people of 16,800 according to Customs arrivals and departures data. However, in the first 11 days of October, that inflow has been completely reversed. Borders are open and everyone is leaving not arriving.
Ski season finishing would be some of the reason and also school holidays at the moment
Lots of new renters incoming.
I was down in Rotorua over the weekend, there's literally dozens of motels they haven't used for emergency housing yet. Surely we can take, say 90,000 this year?
Hello!!!!... I'm a euro dude wanting to travel down under for summer and make some dosh in a nice, clean , cheap, and safe environs...
Where do I go?...
Shit hole, cold, ram raided, expensive, love wage, methane covered A O T O ROWER?.... Nah!
Australia... Yip✅
Enjoy the spiders the size of rats, crocodiles, bush fires, great whites attacking you when you swim in the ocean and the flatulence in Australia, I'll be enjoying the beautiful empty south island roads and miles of unspoilt scenery this summer. Best wishes!
Open the doors, we need them. Just make sure they are wealthy and add value to our country and not the other way around.
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