Occupations to be removed from New Zealand skills lists

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