New Zealand is rebuilding its economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, New Zealand is in dire need of overseas professionals with engineering, IT, and construction skills.

New Zealand is also recruiting teachers from overseas as COVID-19 created a shortage of education professionals.

You can book your consultation call right away if you’re in one of these industries and you want to find out if you qualify for a work visa.

Once that’s done, continue reading to find more about working in New Zealand in each skills area.

1. Engineers

Engineering skills are in short supply in New Zealand. According to New Zealand Now, it’s estimated that New Zealand needs 1,500 engineers more each year just to match economic growth.

And it’s an exciting time to be an engineer in New Zealand.

The Government pledged NZ$12 billion in 2020 to infrastructure upgrades as part of its  Upgrade Programme. The Programme will focus on rails, roads, schools, and hospitals to future-proof New Zealand’s economy.

Engineering occupations on the Skills Shortage lists

New Zealand’s Skill Shortage lists include a wide range of engineering occupations, including engineers, draughting professionals, and technicians:

• Chemical Engineer (233111)
• Materials Engineer (233112)
• Civil Engineer (233211)
• Geotechnical Engineer (233212)
• Structural Engineer (233214)
• Electrical Engineer (233311)
• Electronics Engineer (233411)
• Industrial Engineer (233511)
• Mechanical Engineer (233512)
• Production or Plant Engineer (233513)
• Environmental Engineer (233915)
• Engineering Professionals nec (233999)
• Civil Engineering Technician (312212)
• Electrical Engineering Technician (312312)
• Electronic Engineering Technician (312412)
• Telecommunications Engineer (263311)
• Telecommunications Network Engineer (263312)
• Civil Engineering Draughtsperson (312211)
• Electrical Engineering Draughtsperson (312311)

How much do engineers get paid in New Zealand?

You’ll find salary information for engineers in New Zealand on PayScale. To get you started, we’ve listed the salaries for chemical, environmental and industrial engineers below:

www.payscale.com

www.payscale.com

www.payscale.com

Finding engineering jobs in New Zealand

Engineering New Zealand, the professional body for engineers in New Zealand, is your first port of call when job hunting. Their website has a job section with available positions across all New Zealand regions.

You can also explore these job websites:

• Workhere
• Seek
• Trade Me
• Working In

2. IT specialists

New Zealand’s tech sector comprises over 20,000 firms that employ more than 100,000 people. And it is renowned globally for being a flexible, resilient, adaptable, and entrepreneurial environment.

Traditionally, most tech workers lived and worked in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, but that picture can look different in the future, thanks to more companies offering remote work.

IT occupations on the Skills Shortage lists

New Zealand needs various IT professionals, ranging from web developers to security specialists:

• Multimedia Specialist (Film Animator) (261211)
• ICT Project Manager (135112)
• Organisation and Methods Analyst (224712)
• ICT Business Analyst (261111)
• Systems Analyst (261112)
• Multimedia Specialist (261211)
• Web Developer (261212),
• Analyst Programmer (261311)
• Software Tester (261314)
• Developer Programmer (261312)
• Software Engineer (261313)
• Software and Applications Programmers nec (261399)
• Database Administrator (262111)
• ICT Security Specialist (262112)
• ICT Support Engineer (263212)
• Systems Administrator (262113)
• Computer Network and Systems Engineer (263111)
• Network Administrator (263112)
• ICT Quality Assurance Engineer (263211)
• ICT Systems Test Engineer (263213)
• Telecommunications Engineer (263311)
• ICT Support and Test Engineers nec (263299)
• Telecommunications Network Engineer (263312)
• ICT Customer Support Officer (313112)

How much do IT workers get paid in New Zealand?

IT professionals get paid well in New Zealand. However, your salary will still depend on your occupation, skills, and experience.

Here’s what web developers, security specialists, and system administrators earn annually on average:

www.payscale.com

www.payscale.com

www.payscale.com

Finding IT jobs in New Zealand

There are plenty of IT jobs in the market. You can use any of the websites below to look for suitable positions:

• Workhere
• Seek
• Trade Me
• New Kiwis

3. Construction workers

New Zealand’s Upgrade Programme will not only benefit the engineering industry, as discussed earlier, but also the construction sector. It’s estimated that around 4,800 construction jobs will be created each year until 2028.

Most jobs will be in residential buildings in New Zealand’s largest cities and regions, mainly Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, the Waikato region, and Bay of Plenty.

The fastest-growing sector is projected to be infrastructure, specifically transport, water, and subdivision projects.

In short? It’s an excellent time to immigrate to New Zealand if you’re a construction worker.

Construction occupations on the Skills Shortage lists

New Zealand needs construction workers at all levels of the industry:

• Construction Project Manager (133111)
• Project Builder (including Building Project Manager and Site Foreman) (133112)
• Quantity Surveyor (233213)
• Surveyor (232212)
• Construction Project Manager (Foreman) (Roading and Infrastructure) (133111)
• Project Builder (including Building Project Manager and Site Foreman) (133112)
• Building Associate (312112)
• Surveying or Spatial Science Technician (Building Information Modelling Professional) (312116)
• Building Inspector / Building Surveyor (312113)
• Surveying Technician (Spatial Science Technician/Land Surveyor’s Technician) (312116)
• Surveying Technician (Spatial Science Technician/ Hydrographic Technician) (312116)

How much do construction workers get paid in New Zealand?

Construction workers are paid well in New Zealand. Here are the average annual salaries for quantity surveyors, building inspectors, and construction project managers:

www.payscale.com

www.payscale.com

www.payscale.com

Finding construction jobs in New Zealand

You can find opportunities in the construction industry on these job websites:

• Seek
• Trade Me
• Working In
• New Kiwis

4. Teachers

New Zealand has a great education system, and it’s one that’s well supported. The country has been spending one of the highest proportions of its GDP on primary to tertiary educational institutions among OECD countries.

New Zealand’s education system has also been recognised as one that prepares students for the future. Students aren’t only taught subject matter but also life skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, entrepreneurship, and digital skills.

You can thus expect to teach in an exciting environment and in a country that supports its schools and teachers.

Teaching occupations on the Skills Shortage lists

New Zealand’s Skill Shortage lists include these teaching occupations:

• Early Childhood (Preprimary School) Teacher (241111)
• Primary School Teacher (241213)
• Secondary School Teacher (241411)

How much do teachers get paid in New Zealand?

You can expect to earn these average annual salaries when teaching in New Zealand:

www.payscale.com

www.payscale.com

www.payscale.com

Finding teaching jobs in New Zealand

New Zealand’s Ministry of Education’s website has a vacancies section with public sector teaching jobs. You can search by region, sector, learning area, and position type. It’s an excellent place to start your job search!

Can’t find a job there? Then you could try Seek and Trade Me.

What are the work visas for which skilled workers can apply?

As someone with an occupation on a Skills Shortage list, you could qualify for a Skilled Migrant visa, or an Essential Skills work visa.

1. Skilled Migrant visa

The Skilled Migrant Visa is a residency visa that allows you to stay in New Zealand indefinitely. In your residence application, you can include your partner and dependent children who are 24 and younger.

To apply for a Skilled Migrant visa, you must:

• Be 55 or younger
• Have an offer of skilled employment
• Get at least 160 points in your skills assessment
• Pass your English test
• Meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements

2. Essential Skills Work Visa

The Essential Skills Work Visa is a temporary visa that allows you to live and work in New Zealand for up to three years. Your partner or dependent children may be able to apply separately for visas based on their relation to you.

To apply for an Essential Skills work visa, you must meet these requirements:

• You must have a full-time job offer from a New Zealand employer.
• Immigration New Zealand must be satisfied that there are no suitable New Zealanders to fill the position.
• Your remuneration must be according to the ANZSCO level of your occupation.
• Your occupation must appear on a Skills Shortage list, and you must have the necessary skills and experience to carry out this occupation.

Please note that the Essential Skills work visa will get replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa from 4 July 2022.

Want to find out if you qualify for either work visa?

If you work in engineering, construction, or IT, or you’re a teacher, you can find out if you can apply for a work visa by completing an eligibility assessment.

Our licensed immigration advisor can do such an assessment with you. You’ll get personalised immigration recommendations based on the outcome.

Sound good? Then go ahead and book a consultation call. You’ll also get to ask any questions you might have during your consultation.

* All salaries derived from PayScale.

Are you considering living and working in New Zealand? Then you probably have a lot of questions.

It’s normal too! After all, you’ll move yourself and perhaps even a family to a brand-new country. A country that maybe you haven’t even visited.

To help you get some clarity, we’ve answered eight common questions about working in New Zealand.

1. Is it easy to get a job in New Zealand?

New Zealand makes it possible for people with the right skills, qualifications, and experience to work in New Zealand. If you tick all the boxes, you could easily find a job.

You might also have an easier time getting a job offer if you work in a critical sector such as health care that is especially short of local New Zealand talent.

However, you can’t take either of these factors as a guarantee that you’ll get the first job for which you’ll apply.

Remember that you’ll compete with other job seekers – most likely people from all over the world. That means your CV must stand out, and your interview skills also have to be top-notch.

But if you have everything in place, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t find a job quickly.

2. Is New Zealand a good place to work?

In our opinion? Absolutely! Here are four reasons why we say so:

You can’t beat the work-life balance!

New Zealanders firmly believe that life is for living, which sees them attach a lot of value to time spent with family and friends and enjoying New Zealand’s many leisure opportunities.

The proof? New Zealand ranked fourth in the world for work-life balance in the 2021 Expat Explorer Survey.

There is support available in the workplace for new migrants

Most New Zealand employers are sympathetic towards the struggles of migrants settling into a new country and a new job.

For this reason, you’ll find that many employers are happy to help you in the first couple of weeks by:

• Assigning you a ‘buddy’ – a colleague – to answer your questions and to help you through the first couple of days or weeks
• Giving you time off during the day to take care of appointments or paperwork related to your immigration
• Granting extra leave days or letting you work remotely to take care of something back in your home country

More opportunities for development

New Zealand’s population is small. Just over 5 million people call it home. That’s roughly how many people live in Sydney, Australia!

Due to this, you’ll find that companies and offices are often smaller than you’re used to. That could be just what you’re looking for, though.

In a small team, you’re likely to be more involved in the business activities, leading to more opportunities for professional development, and you stand a greater chance of getting noticed and promoted.

New Zealand’s labour laws protect you

As someone who works in New Zealand, your rights are protected by New Zealand’s labour laws. Your basic rights relate to:

• Pay and employment equity
• Employment agreements
• Employment relationship problems
• Fixed-term employees
• Flexible working arrangements
• Health and safety
• Keeping accurate records for holidays and leave, and wages and time
• Trial periods
• Unions

Your rights also include a not-often-seen parental leave for up to 12 months. You’re also entitled to four months’ annual leave each year after you’ve been employed for 12 months.

You can read more about your rights on Employee New Zealand.

3. What is a livable salary in New Zealand?

Your situation would heavily influence what constitutes a livable salary.

Let us explain.

If you’re moving over with a partner, you’ll be able to live off less than a family of four. The family of four also has to factor schooling into their budget. Their rental would also be higher than yours. You could easily live in a 2-bedroomed place while the family would need at least three bedrooms.

The best advice we have for you is to find out what you could earn in your occupation and what the average living costs are in New Zealand. You’ll quickly get a sense of whether or not you can afford the life you want.

4. How can a foreigner work in New Zealand?

You must hold a valid visa to work in New Zealand. Your work visa options are as follows:

Skilled migrant visa:

The skilled migrant visa is a residency application, and it’s for individuals with an occupation that is in demand in New Zealand.

Accredited Employer Work Visa:

The accredited employer work visa is for migrants with a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer. The migrant must have the necessary skills and qualifications for the job. Migrants in some occupations may also be able to fast-track to residence or gain it after two years.

New Zealand Partner visa:

If you want to join your spouse or life partner in New Zealand, you’ll apply for a partner visa. This visa lets you to live and work in New Zealand.

Visa for the partner of a New Zealand work visa holder:

When one partner in a relationship moves to New Zealand on a work visa, the other partner can apply for a visa to join their partner and work in New Zealand.

5. What jobs are in demand in New Zealand?

The jobs in demand in New Zealand range from engineers and early childhood teachers to electricians and ICT managers.

These in-demand jobs are all captured on New Zealand’s Green List.

Remember, though, that having your job on a skill shortage list is only the first step. You’ll also have to meet all the other immigration criteria to apply for a work visa.

6. What qualifications do I need to work in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s skill shortage lists and ANZSCO dictate the qualifications and experience you must have to work in New Zealand in your occupation. You can search for your occupation to see the criteria you’ll have to meet or speak with an advisor for advice.

7. Can I move to New Zealand without a job?

The skilled migrant visa does not require you to have a job offer, but it’s going to be extremely difficult to get enough points for the visa without a job.

In our experience, most people need a job offer to get to the required 160 points.

The accredited employer work visa does require a job offer. You cannot apply for it without a job.

Other than that, if you’re moving over as the partner of a New Zealander or a work visa holder, you won’t need a job before you move.

8. How do I find a job in New Zealand?

You have three main ways in which to find a job in New Zealand:

Job search websites:

Job search websites like TradeMe and Seek list hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs across a wide range of industries. Usually, you can search by occupation plus region or city.

You must also look at Workhere and Working in New Zealand. These two job search websites cater for migrants.

Recruiters:

A good recruiter is a fantastic asset if you want to increase your chances of getting a job. That’s especially true if you’re job hunting from overseas! A recruiter in New Zealand can share information about the New Zealand job market and give you tips on what employers want.

The other advantage of working with a recruiter is that recruiters often know about jobs not advertised on job search websites or social media. That’s usually because industry-specific recruiters have relationships with employers.

And, let’s not forget – working with a recruiter is free! You won’t have to add to your already extensive list of immigration-related expenses.

Here’s a list of recruiters to get you started:

• 6am Recruitment Ltd: Engineering, construction, transport, manufacturing, and logistics
• Greenlight Recruitment: Information technology and communications
• Education Personnel: Education and social sciences
• Frontline Health New Zealand: Health and community
• Seven Animal Health: Animal care and conservation
• Alpha Recruitment: Business, executive and professional

LinkedIn:

LinkedIn is a powerful job search tool. You can use it to build your profile, network, approach companies you’d like to work for and find and apply for jobs.

For further information about how to get a job in New Zealand, read this article on our blog. We’ve included a checklist for building a strong LinkedIn profile.

Go here for more information about working in New Zealand

There are many expat forums and groups online that you can join to get insider info about living and working in New Zealand. We suggest starting with Expat Arrivals, and InterNations. New Zealand Now is also a fantastic resource!