A number of skilled occupations will be removed from two of New Zealand’s Essential Skills in Demand (ESID) Lists following the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment annual review into the lists.
For the Long Term Skills Shortage List (LTSSL) 19 occupations for which there have been very low volumes of work visas over the last five years have been removed they are:
Aeronautical Engineer
Agricultural engineer
Agricultural scientist (farm systems scientist)
Biomedical engineer
Biotechnologist (genetics scientist)
Cardiac technician (clinical cardiac physiologist including perfusionist)
Educational psychologist
Intensive care specialist
Life scientist (regulatory toxicologist)
Life Scientist not elsewhere classified (Anatomist or Physiologist; Clinical Respiratory Physiologist/Scientist)
Life scientist nec (Animal Scientist or Bioinformatics)
Marine designer
Medical oncologist
Mining engineer (excluding petroleum)
Network analyst
Nuclear medicine technologist
Radiation oncologist
Social Professional nec (applied social scientist)
Transport engineer
The LTSSL identifies occupations that have an absolute (sustained and ongoing) shortage of skilled workers both globally and throughout New Zealand. Migrants who gain employment in one of these occupations may be granted a work visa under the LTSSL Work to Residence or Essential Skills instructions. Migrants applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category may gain bonus points towards their application if they have an offer of employment, work experience or qualifications in an area of absolute skill shortage identified on the LTSSL.
Through the country’s other main Skills List, the Immediate Skills Shortage List (ISSL), 23 occupations have been removed. They are:
Biotechnologist
Cardiothoracic surgeon
Clinical coder
Clinical haematologist
Dental therapist
Dermatologist
Earth science technician
Electronic engineering draftsperson
Electronic instrument trades worker (special class)
Endocrinologist
Gastroenterologist
Logging plant operator
Maintenance planner
Microbiologist
Mixed crop farmer
Neurologist
Neurosurgeon
Otorhinolaryngologist
Paediatric surgeon
Plastic and reconstructive surgeon
Thoracic medicine specialist
Urologist
Vascular surgeon
The ISSL identifies occupations that have an immediate shortage of skilled workers either throughout New Zealand or in certain regions. Migrants wishing to work in occupations on the ISSL may be granted work visas under Essential Skills instructions if they meet the specified qualifications and/or experience requirements.
Changes will be made to these lists in March 2015, and the next review is scheduled to take place in April 2015.
Article published 17th December 2014