Migration Trends July-September 2011

The Labour and Immigration Research Centre’s Migration Trends Key Indicators Report, was released today for July-September 2011.

The number of visitor arrivals at the border increased in July-September 2011 compared to the same time in the previous year. This increase is primarily a result of visitors arriving for the Rugby World Cup.

Around 80,000 visitors arrived for the Rugby World Cup between July-September 2011. Rugby World Cup arrivals were mainly from Australia, the United Kingdom and France.[1]

The report shows that in July-September 2011, 9,400 people were approved for residence - up 1 percent on the 9,300 approved in July-September 2010.

In July-September 2011, 4,400 people were approved for residence through the Skilled Migrant Category compared with 4,900 in July-September 2010. This reflects a flow-on effect from the previous slow down in temporary workers, a key source of future skilled migrants.

More skilled migrants who were approved for residence had a job or job offer. Ninety one percent of Skilled Migrants were approved with a job or job offer in skilled employment in July-September 2011 compared to 89% in July-September 2010.

Compared to the same time in the previous year, there was an increase in the number of temporary work approval numbers, due to increases in the number of working holidaymakers (up 2 percent) and those approved a ‘study to work’ visa (up 10 percent).

Student visa approvals decreased 12 percent on the previous year due in part to streamlining of visa processing, which has smoothed some processing across the year.

The Migration Trends Key Indicators Report is available online.

Footnote
[1] Statistics New Zealand (2011). International Travel and Migration: September 2011.