Key Findings from the Migrant Survey -
2009 Migrants Survey (Pilot)
Immigration Survey Monitoring Programme
Positive employment outcomes for new migrants
New migrants generally achieve good employment outcomes in New Zealand, both in their rate of employment and in the matching of their skills and experience to the labour market. In this survey, 68percent of principal migrants were employed (including those approved through the Family Sponsored Stream and Pacific Category) with 81percent satisfied or very satisfied with their job.[10]
Ninety-two percent of skilled principal migrants were employed and 82percent of work permit holders. A further breakdown of work permit holders showed that 96percent of those approved through the Essential Skills Policy were employed compared with 70percent of those approved through the family-related work policies.
Overall, 7percent of respondents in the labour force were looking for work (Figure 2). Older respondents in particular were more likely to be looking for work than were younger respondents, which was most evident through the Family Parent Category (27percent looking for work).
Figure 2: Respondents’ employment status by category
Source: Immigration Survey Monitoring Programme 2009 Migrants Survey (Pilot).
Most employed respondents were in full-time paid work (83percent). One in four employed skilled secondary and Family Partner Category migrants were in part-time paid work, compared with 4percent of skilled principal migrants and Essential Skills workers.
Results were also positive for the types of jobs respondents held, with 61percent working in a skilled job (Figure 3).[11] When assessed by category, most skilled principal migrants worked in a skilled job (90percent), as did 59percent of skilled secondary migrants and 56percent of work permit holders. An assessment of work permit holders showed 69percent of employed Essential Skills workers had skilled jobs compared with 43percent of those approved through family-related work policy.
Figure 3: Respondents working in a skilled job by category
Source: Immigration Survey Monitoring Programme 2009 Migrants Survey (Pilot).
The findings also demonstrate that migrants' partners can achieve good labour market outcomes. Seventy-two percent of respondents lived with a partner and a large proportion of those partners worked (72percent).[12] Furthermore, two-thirds (66percent) of the employed partners worked in a skilled job.
[10] The Pacific Category includes the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category.
[11] The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO) defines five skill levels based on formal education and training, previous experience, and on-the-job training. A skilled job in the context of this report aligns with ANZSCO skill levels 1, 2, and 3.
[12] Seventy-seven percent of partners were themselves migrants.
