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Skilled workers in demand at London Expo

By Lawrence Johnston

ENGINEERS, health professionals and IT specialists were on New Zealand employers' wish lists at last month's 'Opportunities New Zealand Expo' exhibition in London.

Also in demand as New Zealand tries to bolster its thriving economy with the skilled workforce it so badly needs, are construction workers, plumbers, carpenters  and electricians.

The capital's regional economic development agency, Smart Wellington, was looking for civil servants, especially policy analysts and a wide range of IT specialists such as Java programmers.

Auckland - in need of transport planners - and Napier city councils were present. Also,

Priority One, the agency of the Tauranga and Bay of Plenty region was offering posts for most trades, plus medical staff and civil engineers.

Among engineering employers present were Beca and Fisher & Paykel. Beca was looking for project managers and planning engineers. Fisher & Paykel, who make white goods such as washing machines, had production engineers' and research engineers' positions.

Transit New Zealand was seeking professional roading engineers for the Christchurch area, and for the same area, Works Infrastructure was seeking construction workers and engineers.

Among migration consultants at the show was Bob Clark of Clark Consulting, recruiting for the Otago region. 

Health professionals needed in New Zealand include all types of nurses and radiologists and anaesthetists. Teachers too are in demand particularly for secondary schools and especially maths and other science teachers.

Ian Riddle, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Marketing Manager, London said that INZ visa officers were constantly in demand for advice.

There was also advice from some of the banks such as ASB that were showcasing their services.

Otago Experience, the economic development body for Dunedin City, Central Otago, Clutha District and Whitestone Waitaki held seminars in Glasgow with INZ.

The region needs nurses, both hospital and dental, also doctors, aluminium fabricators and electricians, plumbers and carpenters. They were also looking for quantity surveyors and business professionals, and most kinds of engineer.

New Zealand is also targeting ex patriot New Zealanders now living in the UK, to persuade them to return home to fill some of the vacancies.