The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has removed the jobseeker oversupply list, with effect from 1 October 2021. The undersupply list will be removed later this year.
These lists, part of the government’s COVID-19 response last year, constituted advice from MSD about the supply of job seekers in regions of New Zealand for specific occupations.
The temporary measures were introduced to streamline MSD’s advice to Immigration New Zealand on the availability of job seekers. This advice forms part of the assessment of the labour market test (LMT) for jobs paying below the median wage for Essential Skills Work Visa applications.
The LMT (including advice from MSD) is not required for:
- ·occupations on Immigration New Zealand’s Skills Shortage Lists; or
- for applicants remaining in their current full-time employment, and not changing their role, employer or region of work:
Where the LMT is required:;
- advice from MSD (Work and Income) about the availability of New Zealanders must be taken into consideration by Immigration New Zealand when assessing Essential Skills work visa applications for roles paying below the median wage.
- For jobs that were on the oversupply list, MSD will now provide advice in individual Skills Match Reports (SMRs), as provided for other occupations.
Employers are still required to engage with MSD and make genuine attempts to attract and recruit New Zealanders before a job is offered to a migrant worker.
Hiring migrant workers | Work and Income