Migrants are needed for the Canterbury rebuild, particularly for skilled occupations.
The number of migrants needed will depend on the availability of New Zealand workers to meet demand.
The Government opened the Canterbury Skills and Employment Hub ('the Skills Hub') to help employers fill job vacancies to support the Canterbury rebuild.
The Skills Hub will help you streamline and speed up your recruitment of workers in the Canterbury region by providing a way for you to list job opportunities and match available New Zealanders to them. If New Zealanders are not available, then the Skills Hub will speed up visa applications by confirming this information in a letter. You can attach this information to a visa application for a migrant to fill the vacancy. The letter means Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will not be required to do further checks to see if there are New Zealanders able to do the job.
The Skills Hub has highly experienced and well-connected skills brokers who can scan across all sectors, including the Work and Income database, and the tertiary sector. It also has a website to help match job seekers to employers.
From 28 January 2013, employers in the Canterbury region must use the Skills Hub before supporting immigration applications for occupations that are not highly-skilled, or on the Canterbury Skill Shortage List (the Canterbury list), or on the Immediate or Long Term Skill Shortage Lists. Employers applying for Approval in Principle (AIP) or ‘pre-approval’ to recruit for multiple positions must also use the Skills Hub.
Highly-skilled occupations are defined as those at skill levels 1-2 on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). Highly-skilled occupations include managers and professionals. If you have a vacancy at these skill levels, you do not need to use the Skills Hub, but it may be able to help you with your recruitment.
Occupations that are not defined as highly-skilled are those at skill levels 3-5 on the ANZSCO. These include technicians, trade workers, clerical and administrative workers, sales workers, operators and drivers, and labourers. If you have a vacancy at these skill levels that is not on the Canterbury Skill Shortage List or another skill shortage list, the Skills Hub will simplify and speed up the immigration process for you.
Make sure that you check the Canterbury Skill Shortage List to see if your vacancy is listed. Occupations on the Canterbury list do not need to be labour market tested by INZ, whatever their skill level.
If you are unsure what your vacancy is classified as, search for the occupation on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) and check the Canterbury Skill Shortage List. You can also contact the Skills Hub to help you find the right classification.
You can contact the Skills Hub at:
• www.opportunitycanterbury.org.nz• 0800 CanHub (0800 226482)• canty_skillshub@msd.govt.nz
Use the chart below to see if you need to use the Skills Hub process.
When you identify the need to fill a vacancy, and before an immigration application is made, register the vacancy with the Skills Hub online as part of your recruitment.
The Skills Hub will aim to refer suitable New Zealand job seekers to you. If the Skills Hub cannot identify any suitable New Zealanders, it will confirm this to you in writing. If you do recruit a migrant for the vacancy, at the end of the recruitment process, you should submit this letter with the visa application. INZ will prioritise the application and will not need to contact Work and Income to provide advice on the availability of New Zealanders as it usually does – this process normally takes up to 10 days. Using the Skills Hub to check the availability of New Zealanders before supporting an immigration application makes the process quicker and more consistent for you.
Registering the vacancy with the Skills Hub before an immigration application is made is the only thing you need to do differently. All other standard immigration requirements still apply. We will prioritise the application by not carrying out a labour market check with Work and Income.
The new Skills Hub rule affects jobs in the Canterbury region. This is the area covered by the Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Selywyn District Council.
There are several ways employers can bring migrant workers to New Zealand once you have used the Skills Hub. For example, the existing Approval in Principle (AIP) process can be used if a number of workers are required.
The Essential Skills work visa is the core visa available to employers who wish to bring workers to New Zealand. This visa and the AIP process is labour market tested. Normally we would check with Work and Income to see if there are any New Zealanders available to fill the position, however, by using the Skills Hub it will be able to advise us that this process has been completed to ensure there are no New Zealanders available to do the job. We will not need to seek advice from Work and Income as we normally would.
See more information on how to support an Essential Skills work visa application.
There are various visa options for recruiting skilled migrants.
For construction-related occupations, please see the Construction-related occupations - Employer Info Sheet PDF [440KB].
The Canterbury Skill Shortage List facilitates the entry of skilled workers for the Canterbury rebuild. Suitable applicants who meet the requirements of the occupations on the Canterbury list and who have a job offer in the Canterbury region may be granted a work visa without a labour market test needing to be completed. Many employers are able to meet this criteria, and therefore do not need to use the Skills Hub.
See more information on what to do if your vacancy is on the Canterbury list.
If your vacancy is for a highly-skilled occupation that is not on the Canterbury list, for example a manager or professional, you do not need to use the Skills Hub, but it may be able to help you with your recruitment, as you will still need to demonstrate that you have made a genuine attempt to attract and recruit suitable New Zealanders to fill the position. Find out what you need to do.
People already in New Zealand on working holiday visas, or international students with authority to work, may also be employed for the Canterbury rebuild without the need for a labour market test.
If you have any questions on employing migrants in the Canterbury region, or how the Skills Hub process affects you, please contact us.
The Canterbury Skill Shortage List (CSSL) is reviewed every three months. The last review of the Canterbury List was completed in early November 2012. The next review will be completed in February 2013.
The CSSL highlights the skilled occupations currently on the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) or Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) that are needed for the Canterbury rebuild. Suitable applicants who meet the requirements of the occupations listed in the CSSL and who have a job offer in the Canterbury region may be granted a temporary work visa without a labour market test needing to be done. Many employers are able to meet the criteria.
As part of the new review process, it is not necessary for employers or industry to make submissions (as is the case with the immediate and long-term lists).
Find out more about the review process.
