Media release

15 March 2013

The 12th Annual Migration Trends And Outlook Report Released

The 12th annual Migration Trends and Outlook report shows that India has overtaken the United Kingdom to become the largest source country of skilled migrants to New Zealand.

Most of the increase from India can be attributed to former Indian international students who go on to temporary work and then become permanent residents.

The report shows that the total number of people approved for temporary work visas in 2011/12 was up 2 percent on the previous year. Temporary workers under the Essential Skills Policy continued to decrease, down 1 percent in 2011/12. The number approved a resident visa remained similar to last year though the number of skilled migrants fell 11 percent.

Overall numbers are expected to increase due to the Canterbury rebuild. The Ministry of Business, innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Research Manager, Migration Research, Sankar Ramasamy, says the rebuild will be a major contributor to economic growth over the next few years.

“The rebuild will increase the demand for specific skills, particularly in building professions and trades,” Mr Ramasamy says. “Demand for New Zealanders will be high, and training is under way to get young people in particular into jobs in Canterbury, but nonetheless we are likely to need more migrants if those skills cannot be readily met from within New Zealand.

“This approach fits in with New Zealand’s immigration focus continuing to be on attracting and retaining migrants who contribute economically and settle successfully in New Zealand.”

China remains the largest source country of international students (25 percent) followed by India (13 percent) and South Korea (10 percent). Overall numbers fell 7 percent in 2011/12.

The number of visitor arrivals during 2011/12 increased 6 percent compared with the previous year. The Rugby World Cup contributed significantly to the rise, attracting approximately 133,200 overseas visitors between July and October 2011.

The net migration loss of 3,200 in the last financial year was the first such loss since 2000/01. But this trend is now reversing and a return to positive net migration is expected in 2014.

Migration Trends and Outlook 2011/12 is available here.

Click here to read: Int Travel And Migration Jan 13 HOTP.pdf

Notes

• The figures used in the Migration Trends and Outlook report data for the financial year to June, as opposed to Statistics New Zealand which reports annual data to the latest available month.

• Statistics New Zealand releases monthly figures on the number of overseas visitors, New Zealand resident travellers, and permanent and long-term migrants entering or leaving New Zealand here.

ENDS

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