Review of the Essential Skills in Demand Lists

The Department of Labour maintains the Essential Skills in Demand Lists:

 

• the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) 
• the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL).

 

About the Essential Skills in Demand Lists

The Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) identifies those occupations where there is an absolute (sustained and ongoing) shortage of skilled workers both globally and throughout New Zealand. People who gain employment in one of these areas may be granted a work permit under the LTSSL Work to Residence Policy. Candidates for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category who have an offer of employment, work experience or qualifications in an area of absolute skill shortage identified on the LTSSL will gain bonus points towards their application for residence.

 

The Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) is for occupations that have an immediate shortage of skilled workers in New Zealand. It is designed to facilitate the approval of temporary work visa and permit applications. If an applicant produces an offer of employment in an occupation that is included on the current ISSL, visa and immigration officers will accept that no suitably qualified New Zealand citizens or residents are available.

 

The Essential Skills in Demand Lists are not designed to cater for unskilled labour shortages, seasonal labour shortages or recruitment and retention problems arising because the industry cannot, or does not, meet the terms and conditions necessary to recruit sufficient numbers of suitably qualified workers from within the New Zealand workforce.

 

The Essential Skills in Demand Lists are not the only options for skilled migrants to enter and work in New Zealand. Other options include the Skilled Migrant Category for permanent residence, and temporary work policies such as Essential Skills work policy and Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy.

 

Review process

A bi-annual review is carried out on each of the lists. The review can result in:

 

• an occupation being added
• an occupation being removed
• a change being made to the qualifications and experience levels on the Essential Skills in Demand Lists.

 

As part of each review, information is collected from submissions made by employers and industry. Coordinated group and industry submissions are required, which represent the shared views of the key players within the industry. Then, further information is collected from a consultation process with other stakeholders (for example, unions, industry training organisations, and government departments).

 

A review of an occupation will sometimes be initiated by the Department of Labour, resulting from the experience of operating the lists and the feedback from stakeholders.  A consultation process will take place for these reviews.

 

For an occupation to be added to one of the Essential Skills in Demand Lists, the following must be confirmed.

  

ISSL	LTSSL
Occupation is deemed to be in shortage. Geographic region or regions where there is a shortage is defined.	There is an ongoing and sustained (absolute) shortage, both globally and in New Zealand. The shortage is across all geographic regions in New Zealand. Base salary of at least $45,000 based on a 40-hour working week. Occupation meets the Skilled Migrant Category definition of skilled employment. Applicants must hold full or provisional registration if required.
Industry is committed to training New Zealanders. Industry is committed to fully utilising the domestic labour market before the industry considers employing overseas workers. Shortage is not due to recruitment and retention. Industry is committed to the provisions of New Zealand employment legislation available to workers. Evidence of employers having difficulty employing staff. Estimated apprentice or graduate trainee numbers and the numbers of workers leaving or retiring form the industry. Details of the qualification and skill required for that occupation. Shortage is not employer specific.

 

First review of 2010

The outcome of the second 2009 review on the Essential Skills in Demand Lists (ISSL and LTSSL) was released on 26 November 2009.

 

The submission process for the first review of the Essential Skills in Demand Lists (ISSL and LTSSL) has now begun. Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 5 March 2010. Submitters will be notified of the outcome of submissions in July 2010 when the outcome of the first review is published.

 

The current lists (ISSL and LTSSL published on 26 November 2009) will remain effective until the revised lists come into effect. Normal work policy provisions can still be used for any occupations not listed on the Essential Skills in Demand Lists.

 

Making a submission

Making a submission will not automatically lead to an occupation being added onto a list.

 

It is not normally necessary to make submissions to add an occupation to the ISSL if it is already on the LTSSL. If an applicant produces an offer of employment in an occupation that is included on the current LTSSL, visa and immigration officers will accept that no suitably qualified New Zealand citizens or residents are available, as if the occupation is on the ISSL.

 

If you plan to submit an occupation for consideration, the following checklist may help.

• Start collecting your evidence. You need to demonstrate that there is genuine skill shortage for a particular occupation. This could include, for example, occupation fill rates.
• Consult and get support from relevant industry groups, unions and other employers in the industry.
• Prepare a consolidated submission.  If you are aware of other employers, or agencies, that intend to make a submission for the same occupation then you should work together on a single submission.
• Ensure that the occupation is specific and appears on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). 
• Data which may be useful to you can be obtained from the Department of Labour’s website. 
• For some occupations departmental data will not be available (for example because the occupational group is too small to generate sufficient data for national surveys). In these cases it will be particularly important to provide alternative data (such as industry surveys) to provide a basis for analysis.

 

This is the submission form for the first 2010 review of the Essential Skills in Demand Lists. See an example of a completed submission form which may help you complete your submission.

 

For queries

For queries about the shortages review, or if you wish to be notified of the next review round, please contact: shortagesreview@dol.govt.nz.