New Zealand needs skilled overseas workers

Tens of thousands of skilled workers are needed in New Zealand to work on reconstruction projects in Christchurch in the wake of the town’s devastating earthquakes. Officials from the regional Canterbury Employment and Skills Board (CESB) are currently in the UK to exhibit at two job expos organised by Opportunities New Zealand in London and Manchester.
The key function of the CESB is to bring together the supply and demand sides of the local labour market and to influence the immediate recovery, rebuild and long term recovery plan for the Canterbury economy.

There are opportunities for people with skills in construction, engineering and IT roles in Christchurch over the next 10 years. In particular those with experience needed include scaffolders, quantity surveyors, urban and regional planners, electricians, mechanics and infrastructure project managers, according to the Canterbury Skill Shortage List.

Alex Bouma, CESB’s deputy chairman, said British skilled workers could play a crucial role in the rebuild. ‘There is going to be a huge economic opportunity over the next three to 10 years. The UK expos will play a crucial role in providing businesses with the employees they need,’ he explained.

With large infrastructure projects still only at the design stage, the demand for staff is expected to increase further. It is hoped that many workers will be persuaded to move to New Zealand permanently and relocation costs could be available for some of the higher level opportunities, which would be discussed on a case by case basis.

Canterbury Business Leaders Group spokesman Don Elder said the region needed to attract and retain talented workers. ‘A number of jobs have been created as a result of the earthquakes that didn’t exist three months ago,’ he explained.

The February earthquake destroyed much of the city’s business district and about 30,000 homes. The New Zealand government recently estimated the damage bill at NZ$20 billion (£10 billion).

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