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Expat Kiwis returning home are in a strong position for jobs

?Since the pandemic struck earlier this year, almost 50,000 expat Kiwis have returned home. They are seeking a safe haven from the virus, or an escape from stricter, long-term restrictions and uncertainty in the countries they have been living in.

However, with New Zealand’s own job market not unaffected, this raises the question if there are enough jobs to go around to support these returning Kiwis, or whether they’ll only bolster the unemployment rate and put further strain on the economy.

A new ‘brain exchange’

Talented young New Zealanders heading overseas after graduation has long been considered a ‘brain drain’ for our country. Some of this has been mitigated by immigration, with similarly talented people from overseas choosing to bring their skills to New Zealand to enjoy our great lifestyle. This balance helped coin the phrase ‘brain exchange’.

However, with COVID-19 border restrictions in place, immigration has all but ground to a halt, with many of our talented immigrants choosing to head home. This has left room for returning Kiwis to pick up the gaps in our local job market and use the skills they’ve gained overseas back here in New Zealand.

This phenomenon is referred to as the ‘brain gain’; Kiwis who’ve been working overseas bringing their skills and life experiences back home to use locally.

Early returnees may have found it challenging to get work right away. But, as we’re moving out of alert levels and settling back into the ‘new norm’, confidence is returning to the job market. Some returning Kiwis have been able to slot themselves into similar roles, or created new opportunities for themselves and others by starting up a new endeavour.

Opportunities for skilled workers

Confidence in the economy and our ability to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as government and industry initiatives, means that opportunities for skilled workers are definitely out there.

According to Infometrics, fields such as science and information technology, public administration and safety, administration and support expect job growth of 6% by 2025. Construction and some manufacturing will need 3-4% more people by 2025.

It’s not true that returning expats will only be able to get lower-skilled jobs here at home, or have to consider a career change, even if only for the time being. Anecdotal evidence has shown that many pick up where they left off before they headed overseas. Some return to previous employers here in New Zealand or can find work in their respective fields with the help of recruitment companies that have their finger on the pulse of the local job market.

With the borders closed, jobs traditionally filled by skilled immigrants are left open. Many industries are struggling to fill positions for engineers, qualified tradespeople and veterinarians – to name a few.

Shovel ready projects

To help our economy recover, the Government is also focusing investment in ‘shovel ready’ projects. It has already unveiled 147 shovel-ready projects, backed by $2.3bn of funding, around the country, in a variety of industries. These projects are set to create or retain more than 20,000 jobs over the next year.

While the term ‘shovel-ready’ might imply manual labour, the truth is far from it. While manual labour will be needed, of course, these projects will definitely require skilled and experienced people too.

Talk to STS Group

As the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt around the world, more Kiwis are expected to return to New Zealand, swelling the pool of job-seekers. So, while the job market slowly claws its way back to pre-COVID levels and more jobs become available, it will continue to remain a competitive environment for a while.

This is where having an agency on your side can help. STS can match skills with the right jobs in the market and we often hear about available roles before they’re listed.

So, whether you’ve just returned to NZ, are considering boarding a flight back home, or you know someone who is, it’s reassuring to know there are jobs available for qualified and skilled people – you just need to know where to look. Get in touch today for a chat.

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