Essential Skills in Demand List annual review

There are three Essential Skills in Demand lists:

1. Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL)
2. Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL)
3. Canterbury Skill Shortage List  

For many migrants these are important lists as it might be easier to get your visa approved if your occupation is on one of these lists AND you meet the exact requirements on the list.

The Canterbury Skill Shortage was reviewed and the changes made came into effect on 14 December 2015.

Immigration New Zealand completes a review of the Long Term and Immediate Skills Shortage list every year.The new and revised lists are effective from  March 2016. This might seem a long way away but if your occupation is going to be removed it is better to know now. You might want to fast-track your plans as you still have a few months to lodge an application.
Long Term Skill Shortage ListSummary of changes

The following two occupations will be removed:

• Social Worker 
• Statistician (Fisheries Modeller)

Immediate Skill Shortage ListSummary of changes

Add the following four occupations:

• Glazier - only for the Auckland and Canterbury regions
• Sheetmetal Trades Worker
• Metal Fabricator 
• Surveying or Spatial Science Technician (Building Information Modelling Professional).

Remove the following occupations: 

• Beef Cattle Farmer (Assistant Herd Manager)  - effective from May 2016
• Dairy Cattle Farmer (Assistant Herd Manager) - effective from May 2016
• Beef Cattle Farmer (Herd Manager) - effective from May 2016
• Dairy Cattle Farmer (Herd Manager) - effective from May 2016
• Chemical Plant Operator 
• Occupational Health and Safety Advisor
• Gas or Petroleum Operator 
• Production Manager
• Geologist
• Safety Inspector
• Geophysicist and Petrophysicist 
• Accountant
• Photographer (Medical)
• Chemist (including Analytical Chemist)
• Rheumatologist
• Orthopaedic Surgeon
• Science Technician (Flat Weaving Specialist/ Technologist)

Canterbury Skill Shortage ListSummary of changes

The following occupations are removed for the list: 

• Painting Trades Worker
• Upholsterer 
• Electrician 
• Quantity Surveyor

The text “including at least 12 months’ relevant work experience in New Zealand” is added to the following  occupations:

• Bricklayer
• Drainlayer
• Fibrous Plasterer
• Floor Finisher
• Plumber
• Roof Tiler
• Solid Plasterer
• Stonemason

• Wall and Floor Tiler

How do the changes affect you?If you do not have a job offer or work in New Zealand yet, do not be alarmed. Just because these occupations have been removed from the shortage lists, that doesn't mean there isn't still a high demand for them and you still might be able to get a job offer and be granted a visa.

If you work in one of the occupations that have been removed, don’t worry! You probably will still be able to obtain enough points to apply for a resident visa. You might have to go through some additional steps in the visa application process though.

If you have a job offer in one of the occupations that have been removed or you are currently on an Essential Skills work visa and wish to renew, you might be affected. Your employer will now have to prove that he is not able to find suitable New Zealand candidates for this position before a (new) visa can be granted.

If you are on a Work to Residence (LTSSL)visa and you work in one of the occupations that have been removed from the Long Term Skill Shortage List, you no longer are able to apply for a resident visa after 2 years. You might be eligible to apply for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category though.

If you just want to start your EOI process or your EOI has not been selected from the pool double check that

• you have not claimed (bonus) points that you are not entitled to
• you still have enough points to make the required pass mark