Anglo Pacific International Plc, the UK’s largest independent international removals company, has reported that removal bookings for New Zealand in 2011 are 26% up on 2010. The Business has experienced greater growth this year to New Zealand than some other migration market and believes that the skills shortage brought on by widespread earth quake damage might be partly responsible.
In February 2011 an earth quake of magnitude 6.3 reached the Canterbury region of New Zealand and was centred just 10km from Christchurch – the country’s second most populated city. The most destructive in a year-long earthquake swarm impacting the Christchurch area, the disaster left a lot of casualties and insurance providers with a total rebuild price of around 15 to 16 billion NZ$. Now, in the aftermath, New Zealand’s single largest issue is a shortage of skilled labour.
Jason Diggs, Anglo Pacific’s Sales Director and a native of Christchurch himself, comments “Whilst native New Zealanders are after all priority candidates, there’s an acknowledgement that overseas tradesmen and construction experts will need to plug the shortfall. The Canterbury Employment and Skills Board, a physique set up in the wake from the earthquakes, has made a concerted effort to urge expat New Zealanders return home and help with the reconstruction. This Board will be attending migration and employment Expos across the UK in the coming months to recruit both expats and Britons to bolster Christchurch businesses. Judging by Anglo Pacific’s much increased export bookings for brand new Zealand, their efforts could bear fruit.”
Estimates declare that at least 8,000 construction workers will probably be required to rebuild and repair Christchurch’s 100,000 damaged homes. In the event the rebuild is presented at a fast rate, literally thousands of additional workers is going to be needed and, even if the program is staggered over ten to 15 years, the local Christchurch employment situation still would not be in a position to cope. The problem may be exacerbated by an exodus of Christchurch residents who have sought jobs and lives elsewhere to free themselves from the difficult conditions.
Canterbury Employment and Skills Board (CESB) Deputy Chairman, Alex Bouma, said unprecedented opportunities exist in Christchurch for skilled workers prepared to relocate. “There is going to be huge economic opportunity in Canterbury in the next three to 10 years. There’s been expansive coverage of the disaster and what we’re saying now is that the world of business has moved beyond that with a large degree. Sure we’ve still have a lot of things to deal with, the good news is there are unprecedented opportunities they can be a part of.”
Ironically, before the unprecedented string of seismic activity, New Zealand was in need of more skilled labour. Hiring had already become increasingly difficult inside the IT and computer sector to maintain abreast of changing technology as well as the health sector can be crying out for staff. Prudence Shaw of ACCENT Health Recruitment based in Christchurch confirms, “All specialist disciplines are required with acute shortages in mental health, orthopaedics, radiology, surgery and anaesthesiology, emergency – in reality most areas. General practitioners will also be in high demand. Nurses employed in New Zealand can expect to earn about $50,000NZ (approximately £26,000) annually and doctors earn upwards of $150,000NZ (approximately £78,000). The cost of living in New Zealand is considerably less than the UK and the great lifestyle a major draw for people wanting a big change of pace while still being able to advance their medical careers”.
In the aftermath of the earthquakes, occupations specifically in demand include project managers, engineers, architects, urban planners, electricians, plumbers, joiners, plasterers, roofers and many more as Christchurch tries to build almost a complete CBD from scratch. Utilizing its vast network of contacts built over Thirty years of trading, Anglo Pacific supplies a dedicated job search service with applicants invited to join up free of charge and without obligation. Completed registrations are sent to specialist recruiters within all the key disciplines – Anglo Pacific partners with a variety of specialist recruiters in New Zealand, and many more in Africa and Australia.
And, needless to say, if New Zealand employers take on applicants through Anglo Pacific’s network, the organization is likely to be their preferred substitute for move their household effects. Anglo Pacific offers job candidates a totally free 25kg air courier shipment (worth approximately £150) for essentials required immediately in a new overseas home such as tools of the trade, personal documents, laptops and seasonal clothing. The offer applies to job candidates who select Anglo Pacific for his or her international removal with a value of £1,000 or even more. The courier service is accessible to most countries and frequently offers a transit which can be between five to seven days door to door. Just quote your unique job registration number once you book your removal to get the special offer.
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