More than 1500 apply for new skilled migrant visa in first two weeks

More than 1500 people applied for a new skilled migrant visa in its first fortnight.New residence pathways for trades, technicians and skilled work experience were introduced on 24 August.Immigration minister Erica Stanford, said more than 200 early childhood education teachers were among the applicants."It was more than we forecast, but it just goes to show the number of people who are highly skilled who found themselves locked out of pathways to residents that our employers are desperately keen to keep," she told the NZAMI conference in Auckland."And as you all know, we have been desperately short of ECE teachers, and this is a great way of attracting excellent people from overseas to help us fill some of those skills shortages."The revised approach gives greater recognition to applicants' prior work experience."We're also seeing trades and technicians pathways attract workers and occupations that underpin New Zealand's construction and ICT sectors, including fitters, joiners, and electronic trades workers. And the skills work experience pathway with migrants taking up highly skilled roles across construction, engineering, and ICT."These pathways reflect a principle that is really important. Our residence system should recognise the skills New Zealand actually values and needs, not simply the qualifications someone happens to hold."Stanford said the government would review the green list of straight to residence roles, such as doctors and engineers, as New Zealanders are struggling to get jobs in that category.Some roles would be removed, as they could now apply under the new skilled migrant category."I appreciate for some employers this will mean needing to advertise for roles when they currently don't have to under the green list. However, that is the right thing to do."Over the last few years, we have seen skilled people across a number of industries lose work. And I receive emails from New Zealanders qualified and experienced in green list roles, frustrated that they're unable to find work while our immigration settings don't require roles in those areas to be advertised.So that is the right thing to do. Putting New Zealanders first for jobs means that the default expectation is that employers should be required to advertise for every role."