Countries hiring from outside Europe: New Zealand

favorable economic environment

In 2020, the unemployment rate in the country was less than 5%, in other words a state of near full employment. As is the case in the majority of countries in the world, the service sector occupies a prominent position in the national economy at up to 75%. Tourism, in particular, contributes to the strength of this third sector. The agricultural sector is also one of the pillars of the New Zealand economy. Foreigners represent about 15% of the agricultural labor force.

As in most developed countries, the technology sector, in a broad sense, carries great growth prospects, both in economic terms and in terms of employment. The country is particularly looking for qualified people such as developers, system administrators, network engineers, programmers, and IT security specialists.

If you are fluent in English, you will find plenty of opportunities in marketing, finance and trade – especially international trade which New Zealand relies on so heavily.

The country is very open to new talent and candidates with strong skills, particularly in environmental-related activities, and New Zealand is often cited as a pioneer in this regard.

Taxes are deducted at source in New Zealand, and the scales are lower than those in France, ranging from 12.2% to 34.7%.

action steps there

A work visa is required to come to work in New Zealand. To do this, it will be necessary to have a written job offer by a company incorporated in the country. This visa will be valid for five years and is renewable.

After that, you will be able to claim permanent resident status which allows you to live and work in the country legally for an indefinite period. You will therefore have access to the same rights as New Zealand citizens. You will be able to achieve this state through the general classes process. Applications are evaluated according to a range of criteria such as age, professional experience or university degrees. This visa allows you and your family to settle and work in New Zealand.

How to find a job

A professional network is essential in New Zealand and contacts with French business groups and worker networks can be invaluable. There were more than 5,000 of our compatriots there in 2020. The French-New Zealand CCI also provides valuable assistance in integrating into this network.

Vacancies are published regularly in local newspapers. Feel free to refer to them in the pages of the New Zealand Herald, Dominion Post, or even the Education Gazette. Traditional sites such as Monster, LinkedIn or Indeed are used but local sites such as PickNZ, New Kiwis and Seek are preferred.

In order to verify your skills and qualifications, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority will compare your data against the standards in force in the country. If these results are not sufficient for certain positions, you will have to pursue additional training or studies, in particular to work in the medical sector. In addition, this website provides information on occupations that are in short supply in New Zealand: https://www.nouvellezelandeservices.com/blog-nzs/2018/2/7/liste-des-mtiers-en-demande-les-changements-partir-de-fvrier-2018-