Immigration Application - Principal Applicants

Only principal applicants were asked to respond to the following section of the survey. Specifically, they were asked to provide information regarding the category they applied under and whether they received points on their application for a job offer. Those who did receive points for a job offer were also asked if they were still working in the job for which they received points on their application and, if not, their reasons for leaving the job.

Immigration application categories

About three-quarters of principal applicants who participated in the 2007 SEFS reported they applied under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), while 18 percent did so under one of the Business categories, and the remainder under Talent/Long Term Skill Shortage List, General Skills or Other.

While there were no significant differences in relation to these findings when viewed by gender (or region of origin), the proportions of principal applicants approved under the different application categories has changed significantly over the last three years. There has been a significant increase in the number of principal applicants accepted under the Skilled Migrant Category since 2005, while the proportion accepted under the General Skills Category has decreased significantly. This is not surprising, as the GSC closed in July 2003.

Points for employment

Sixty-nine percent of principal applicants received points on their residence application for employment in New Zealand, and the majority of these (97 percent) worked in the job that they received points for. At 12 months on, 75 percent of those who worked in the job that they received points for reported they were still working in that job.

These findings are consistent with those found in the 2005 and 2006 surveys. In 2005, 96 percent of principal migrants worked in the job that they received points for, and 12 months on, 75 percent of those who worked in the job that they received points for reported they were still working in that job.

In 2006, 97 percent of principal migrants worked in the job that they received points for, and 12 months on, 71 percent of those who worked in the job that they received points for reported they were still working in that job.

As shown in Figure 2, the most frequent reason given by those principal applicants who were no longer working at the job for which they received points on their application was that they had started another job with a different employer (50 percent of the sub-sample).

Figure 2: Reasons for not staying in job that applicant received points for (n=62)

Data Table for figure 02

Total may exceed 100% due to multiple response.
Excludes missing and not stated data.

Summary

• About three-quarters of the principal applicants were approved through the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).
• 69 percent of principal applicants received points for employment in New Zealand on their residence application, and the majority of these (97 percent) worked in the job for which they received points for.
• Twelve months on, 75 percent of those who worked in the job they received points for were still working in that job.

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