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Media Release

To: Chief Reporter Date: 2 September 2008

Migrant underemployment survey needs more respondents

A Canterbury Development Corporation study to determine issues for
skilled migrants is looking for more respondents.

CDC Youth Employment Manager Simon Worthington says often skilled
migrants seem to struggle to find work in their chosen professions.
"Anecdotally we've heard that new migrants don't get jobs in the areas
they're skilled in. But we've been surveying new migrants since March
and only have 125 responses," Mr Worthington says. The survey is
targeting 300 responses, to ensure a rich picture of migrant
underemployment.

"To date this issue just hasn't been quantified properly, so it will
help us see what sort of problems there are and how big an issue it is
too," he says.

Cultural and official organisations have been helping by alerting
members and clients to the survey. Migrants who want to take part can
contact Simon Worthington at CDC, 353 6886 or go to
www.researchfirst.co.nz.
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