Migrant pathway to boost trades
The Motor Trade Association (MTA) has welcomed news the government is trying to plug gaps in the workforce by creating a trades and technician pathway to residence for skilled migrants.
It says the move shows the government recognises the value of trades and follows recent announcements about boosting them as a career option as part of changes to secondary school education.
Nicola Willis, Minister for Economic Growth, announced on September 23 that two new skilled migrant residence pathways will be introduced from mid-2026 to support business growth.
A trades and technician pathway will be for migrants in specified skilled roles who hold a relevant qualification at Level 4 or above and have at least four years of relevant post-qualification skilled work experience, including at least 18 months in New Zealand where they’ve been paid at or above the median wage.
While a skilled work experience pathway targets migrants in skilled roles who have at least five years of directly relevant work experience, including at least two years of experience in New Zealand where they’ve been paid at least 1.1 times the median wage.
“Businesses told us it was too hard for some migrants to gain residence, even when they had crucial skills and significant experience that was not available in the existing workforce,” says Willis. “We’re fixing it.”
James McDowall, MTA’s head of advocacy, has called for and worked with ministers and officials on improved access for trades for almost a year.
“We told government that it is essential to recognise that trades are skilled professions,” he explains.
“These roles have long deserved more recognition for the expertise and technical skill they require and the skilled migrant category needed to be fixed to address this.
“Today is a good day for trades, and follows similar good news about steps to encourage secondary school students to consider trades as a career.”
McDowall says the automotive industry, which according to the NZ Institute of Economic Research produces $6.8 billion, or 1.9 per cent, of gross domestic product, is growing and needs more workers to deliver that growth.
“It is a shame we have to wait until mid-2026 for the changes to kick in,” he adds.
“That said, knowing it’s coming gives certainty to employers and migrants already here, who are working towards residency.”
MTA has long said that many businesses want to develop and hire local staff but overseas workers play an important role in filling gaps and relieving the strain on employers.
“Now with the certainty that automotive training body MITO is returning to industry, trades getting appropriate recognition in the curriculum and today’s announcement, both sides of the equation are being addressed,” McDowall says.
“It also goes a long way to dispel the dated trope that trades are a second-rate career compared to white-collar roles.
“The truth is tradespeople make a massive contribution to this country and always will.”
Practical skills
Erica Stanford, Minister of Immigration, says the government’s latest announcement balances attracting higher-skilled workers with managing migration levels and ensuring New Zealanders remain prioritised for jobs.
“This helps Kiwi businesses access the skills and experience needed to grow the economy, while hiring New Zealanders where they can,” she adds.
“These changes are part of a suite of smart, flexible and nuanced immigration solutions we’ve introduced.
“The Trades and Technician pathway recognises the practical skills needed in industries where sub-degree qualifications are widely used and valued.
“To ensure the new pathways are focused on where skilled and experienced migrants are most needed, additional eligibility restrictions will be placed on some occupations.”
Further information about these occupations and requirements, as well as occupations eligible for the trades and technician pathway, will be provided before the pathways open next year.
