OECD recommends cut on low skilled and working holiday visas

A recent report from the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development
is recommending the tightening of controls over the numbers of working holiday and low-skilled visas granted by its member states.

Concern over high youth unemployment in many of the 34 OECD member states has prompted the organisation to warn against giving preference to immigrants as regards jobs. However, the report singled out the New Zealand visa system for its cexcellent ontrol of the proportion between temporary and permanent workers.

According to report author Thomas Liebig, skilled migrants in New Zealand were more able to find jobs aligned to their experience and qualifications than immigrants at the same professional level arriving in Australia or Canada. Even so, he added, more attention should be paid to ensuring migrants had sufficient English language skills.

Leibig said that evidence from OECD states confirms the improved labour market outcomes resulting from higher migrant proficiency in the host country’s language. Higher levels, he believes, should be rewarded by extra points leading to the grating of visas.

The OECD is concerned about the increase in take-up of New Zealand’s working holiday and student visas, available to foreigners between the ages of 18 and 29 years. At present, some 50,000 young expats are on the working holiday scheme, with the numbers causing concern over the availability of jobs for young Kiwis and the rise in the unemployment rate amongst school-leavers and graduates.