About 200,000 people came to New Zealand for work between September last year and this year, as per the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. This is the highest number since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
In September alone, 19,530 people arrived in New Zealand for work, marking the highest monthly count since March 2020.
Though the rise in work visa arrivals suggests New Zealand’s economy is recovering, it’s still not as high as before the pandemic. In the 12 months leading up to September 2019, 241,749 people arrived in New Zealand for work.
The total number of people in New Zealand on work visas is increasing. As of September this year, 162,459 people were on work visas in New Zealand, up from 108,333 in September last year.
This increase in work visa holders is partly due to the government’s 2021 Residence Visa Scheme, which made it easier for people with work visas to become residents in New Zealand.
The government expects the rise in work visa arrivals to help the economy and address labor shortages in critical sectors.
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