New Zealand has made a significant update to its Scarce Skill Shortage Lists for April 2025, opening opportunities for skilled professionals around the world. This expanded list reflects the country’s ongoing effort to address labor shortages and attract international talent, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare, ICT, engineering, construction, and more.
The Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) highlights occupations that are urgently needed in New Zealand. If your profession is on this list, you are eligible for a variety of visas, including the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), Green List Residence Visa, Work to Residence Visa, and even pathways straight to residence. The updated professions now include roles such as ICT and software experts (analyst programmers, cybersecurity experts, software testers), engineers (civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical), and healthcare professionals (psychiatrists, GPs, radiologists, nurses). Construction and trade roles such as quantity surveyors, construction project managers, and diesel mechanics are also in high demand.
For those in healthcare and social support, New Zealand has recognized the critical need for roles in aged care, disability support, mental health services, and emergency care. Positions like aged and disabled carers, nursing support workers, paramedics, and medical technicians are now officially part of the Personal Carers & Critical Health Workers Scarce List. These roles are often eligible for fast-tracked work-to-residence pathways due to the urgency in filling these positions.
The Primary Sector Scarce List offers significant opportunities for workers in agriculture, farming, food production, aquaculture, and related fields. Whether working on farms, in food processing, or in winemaking, there is a high demand for skilled professionals in these industries.
If your skills align with these growing needs, New Zealand offers a clear pathway to work and potentially long-term residency. The expansion of the Scarce Skill Shortage Lists is a clear signal that New Zealand is actively seeking skilled professionals to contribute to its economy and fill essential roles.
