New Zealand Herald - NZ faces tough competition for migrants - Thursday 08, September 2005 21:49.00 PM - National News
New Zealand Herald - NZ faces tough competition for migrants - Thursday 08, September 2005 21:49.00 PM - National News: "New Zealand will face tough competition from other countries in a worldwide shortage of skilled labour that is only going to get worse, say immigration experts.
The Department of Labour told an immigration conference this year that 70 million people would retire in OECD countries over the next 25 years to be replaced by just five million workers.
Paul Spoonley, a Massey University professor of sociology, told the Herald the loss of working age populations was going to be enormous in some countries.
The United States was forecasting a shortage of seven to 10 million workers within 20 years, he said.
Professor Spoonley said that in New Zealand the fertility rate of 1.9 was well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per childbearing-aged women.
The country was going to have to compete to attract skilled workers with other countries such as Australia and Canada.
'New Zealand is already struggling to keep up as regards salary levels and the competition is only going to increase for all advanced economies.'
But Professor Spoonley said New Zealand sent mixed messages to countries such as China and India, where most future skilled workers would have to be recruited from. Some English language requirements had been perceived as racist. "
The Department of Labour told an immigration conference this year that 70 million people would retire in OECD countries over the next 25 years to be replaced by just five million workers.
Paul Spoonley, a Massey University professor of sociology, told the Herald the loss of working age populations was going to be enormous in some countries.
The United States was forecasting a shortage of seven to 10 million workers within 20 years, he said.
Professor Spoonley said that in New Zealand the fertility rate of 1.9 was well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per childbearing-aged women.
The country was going to have to compete to attract skilled workers with other countries such as Australia and Canada.
'New Zealand is already struggling to keep up as regards salary levels and the competition is only going to increase for all advanced economies.'
But Professor Spoonley said New Zealand sent mixed messages to countries such as China and India, where most future skilled workers would have to be recruited from. Some English language requirements had been perceived as racist. "
posted by Paul Johnson at 2:13 pm
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