Transition to Permanent Residence - Job outcomes of work permit holders
Background
One of the greatest issues facing NewZealand is its ability to attract and retain talented people as a means of facilitating economic growth.
The objective of NewZealand's immigration policy is to contribute to economic growth by enhancing the overall level of human capability in NewZealand, encouraging enterprise and innovation, and fostering international links, while contributing to social cohesion. This objective is achieved by selecting a broad mix of migrants on the basis of their skills and experience or their family links to NewZealand or both.
Most people who are not NewZealand citizens and who wish to stay indefinitely in NewZealand must have residence permits to stay in NewZealand.
A large proportion of NewZealand's permanent residents were originally temporary migrants who were granted permits or visas to reside in NewZealand for a limited period. In 2008/09, 81percent of people approved for permanent residence had previously held a temporary permit.[1] Of those, 59percent had previously held a work permit. In this way, temporary migration has become a major source of talent for NewZealand.
The Department wants to understand:
- the work experiences and outcomes of those who transition from temporary to permanent residence
- whether these migrants work in jobs that use their skills and experience.
[1] Department of Labour (2010) Migration Trends and Outlook 2008/09. Wellington: Department of Labour. http://dol.govt.nz/publications/research/migration%2Doutlook%2D200809.
