Skilled Migrants and Regional Support Activities Wellington Employment Workshop 11 April 2013

Unique physical and social qualities Geographical compactness Family connections PLUS Success in securing work in Wellington by chance! Why Wellington attracts migrants:

Skilled Migrant Trends The share of skilled migrants coming to Wellington has declined since 2008.

Wellington’s job growth is forecast to be modest over the 2013 and 2014 March years but is expected to recover somewhat during the 2015 March year. Employment Projections

Attracting and retaining the skills NZ needs finding people with the right skills to meet NZ’s skill gap needs Identifying pressure points and designing interventions aimed at keeping skilled migrants here supporting employers to locate & retain the skills their business need to grow Immigration New Zealand focus:

Employers are also our customers – the Migration Pathway Encouragement Access to prospects Support to promote coming to NZ Encouragement Access to prospects Support to promote coming to NZ Process clarity Connection to prospects Support to promote coming to NZ Process clarity Connection to prospects Support to promote coming to NZ Information Clarity & ease Confidence Ability to support applicant Information Clarity & ease Confidence Ability to support applicant Speed Transparency of steps No problems with medical or registration Speed Transparency of steps No problems with medical or registration A clear date to organise around Facilitated at border A clear date to organise around Facilitated at border Employee settles in quickly and delivers professionally Support to help acclimatisation Employee settles in quickly and delivers professionally Support to help acclimatisation INTEREST ENQUIRE APPLY ASSESS & DECIDE TRAVEL STAY Migrant Needs Employer Needs Emotionally-led Inspiration Job and living opportunities Connections Multiple countries compared Emotionally-led Inspiration Job and living opportunities Connections Multiple countries compared Practical information Answers Reassurance for all the family Clear direction for process Practical information Answers Reassurance for all the family Clear direction for process Information clarity & ease Confidence Clear direction for process Information clarity & ease Confidence Clear direction for process Speed Transparency of steps No problems with medical or registration Speed Transparency of steps No problems with medical or registration A clear date to organise around Feeling welcome to NZ Facilitated at border A clear date to organise around Feeling welcome to NZ Facilitated at border Settle in quickly Reinforcement Feel ‘at home’ Overcome set-backs Settle in quickly Reinforcement Feel ‘at home’ Overcome set-backs Individuals can enter at different stages depending on the market, segment and visa category SELL Convert Interest In NZ Into Enquiries SELL Convert Interest In NZ Into Enquiries SIGN-UP Convert Enquiries Into Applications SIGN-UP Convert Enquiries Into Applications STREAM Channel Applications into Assessment STREAM Channel Applications into Assessment SIGNAL Confirm Decision to allow to Travel or Stay SIGNAL Confirm Decision to allow to Travel or Stay SETTLE Guide Arrivals into Settlement SETTLE Guide Arrivals into Settlement INZ Attraction & Retention Tasks

Department of Labour Employers’ Survey % of employers rated migrant employees as good or very good Challenges – 43% identified language difficulties 39% identified cultural difficulties Identifying the challenges and responding to employers’ needs

Recent Wellington Employer Feedback Attracting skilled migrants was viewed as less of a focus than previously, due to changed economic environment Hiring migrants was perceived as a challenge, particularly due to differences in communication styles

Diverse workforces can be a challenge and we know that employers can struggle to get the best out of migrant staff Research underpins the challenge – people work differently and manage staff differently Most employers are busy people and they do not have time to become inter-cultural experts Employers say they want “quick tips” & “checklists” – to get to solutions without in depth understanding The challenge of ‘style’ at work

When it comes to migrant skill retention: employers matter Settling/integrating is a two-way process, for new migrants and for the host community The workplace is the key context for migrant interactions in their new country – where migrants must interact with fellow workers and managers Employers need to understand the challenges migrant workers face not only in the workplace, but also outside of work that may impact on their new staff member’s performance, or retention

Support for Wellington Region’s employers INZ works through channels to reach employers and provide support locally

Wellington Region’s Settlement Support Co-ordinators Wellington: Marilen Mariano, Hutt City: Vesna West, Upper Hutt: Cecilia Titulaer, Porirua: Annette Woods, WECC Skilled Newcomers Programme Kirstie Talbot, Wellington Volunteer Centre Pauline Harper, Local information and advice