This section contains archived information that has been retained for reference purposes. To view current reports, please go to the Labour Market Information section.
February 2005
Skill shortage assessments of 16 trade occupations. They provide an assessment of whether there is a genuine skill shortage of the occupation under review, an analysis of the demand and supply forces contributing to the shortage and a short-term outlook.
The chosen occupations represent a wide range of trades including construction, engineering, motor, food, boat building and furniture making.
Shortages exist in each trade occupation surveyed.
Shortages are acute in some trade occupations, with vacancy fill rates below 30% in some areas.
The shortages are assessed to be genuine skill shortages, as opposed to recruitment difficulties, in all but one occupation surveyed.
On balance, the growth in supply through training and migration falls short of the loss of trades people through retirement and occupational wastage and the growth in demand through job creation.
The causes of trade shortages are varied and include a drop in young people entering the trades in the 1990s and low training rates at the "fully trade qualified' qualification levels.
These shortages are expected to persist, certainly in the short term.
The Immigration Service’s Long Term Skill Shortage List
The Immigration Service’s Immediate Skill Shortage List
Skill Shortages in the Trades: The 2005 Picture
Skill Shortage Assessment Reports (2005): Professionals
Occupation Reports (2004): Professionals
Survey of Employers who have Recently Advertised (SERA)
These were one off reports – they will not be updated and its future will be reviewed in December 2007. After review it may be retained for a further period or moved to the archive
For further information please contact the Labour Market Skills team on info@dol.govt.nz