Jobs in skill shortage and labour shortage

Skill shortages can happen when employers find it hard to get staff with the right skills, when staff turnover is high, or if there's low unemployment. 

Changes in the economy and technology, and movements of people between countries or in and out of the workforce can affect jobs in skill shortage.

Knowing which jobs are in demand can help you choose jobs or decide what subjects to study. Find out more about jobs in our jobs database which lists pay, entry requirements and job opportunities for over 400 jobs.

Immigration New Zealand's Green List and Sector Agreements show skills and labour gaps

Immigration New Zealand's Green List and Sector Agreements aim to make it easier for employers to fill genuine skills gaps by recruiting overseas workers.

These lists can also give you an idea of which jobs are in skill shortage or labour shortage.

  • The Green List makes it easier for employers to attract migrants into skilled, highly paid and care workforce occupations. 
  • Sector agreements are a temporary measure to  make it easier for employers to attract migrants to fill lower- paid roles.

Immigration New Zealand's previous skill shortage lists can indicate jobs in demand

Immigration New Zealand's skill shortage lists showed that the Government was actively encouraging skilled workers from overseas to work in particular roles in New Zealand.

The skill shortage lists were last updated in 2019. They can indicate jobs that are likely to be in demand.

Find out more about jobs that were on Immigration New Zealand's long-term, regional, and construction and infrastructure skill shortage lists.

These do not include jobs on the Green List or other agreements if they weren't already on a skill shortage list.