Skills gap sees New Zealand recruit from Australia

An increasing skills shortage in New Zealand has seen employers look across the Tasman Sea to Australia to recruit workers, and lure home Kiwis who have moved there for better job opportunities.
Tue, 2 Dec 2014
An increasing skills shortage in New Zealand has seen employers look across the Tasman Sea to Australia to recruit workers, and lure home Kiwis who have moved there for better job opportunities.

New Zealand’s economic development minister Steven Joyce and more than 35 employers have been visiting the neighbouring country to recruit skilled workers to plug gaps in the IT, engineering, healthcare, construction and trades sectors.

Joyce said in a statement: “The trans-Tasman labour market has seen many Kiwis move to Australia over the last 20 years to take advantage of a range of job opportunities. The time is right for them to consider returning.”

He said it was “exciting” to see expats, as well as skilled Australians considering the move.

According to media reports, the employers include New Zealand’s largest engineering firm, BECA; the nation’s largest employer, Fletcher Building; and its biggest distributor of electricity and gas, Vector.

Most Australian permanent residents can live and work in New Zealand without a visa.

  • Want to comment on this story? The Comment box is at the bottom of the page. Sorry for the glitch but just scroll right down and share your opinions!

Recruitment industry voices say little detail on workforce from the Chancellor

Recruitment industry observers have criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s failure to move the UK ahead in specific commitments to workforce issues.

Legislation 12 June 2025

STEM recruiter acquires construction training firm 3B Training

Morson Group has acquired Wigan-based 3B Training to expand its construction skills offering.

Contracts 12 June 2025

Government’s apprenticeship budget refocuses to ‘rebuild Britain’

The government has made radical changes to skills and training, including a refocus away from higher-level apprenticeship funding.

Legislation 27 May 2025

REC urges government to build on success of Restart Scheme

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) is urging the government to build on the success of the Restart Scheme.

27 May 2025
Top