How NZ became reliant on migrant workers

The influx of short-term migrant workers reached historic highs before covid turned off the tap. (Image: Deposit photos)

Jem Traylen

Thu, 05 Aug 2021

In part two of our deep dive into the state of our labour markets, BusinessDesk talks to NZIER principal economist Peter Wilson and Mojo chief executive Pierre van Heerden about how much the pre-covid economy grew to rely on short-term migrants. Read part one here.The economists at NZIER would probably agree with Churchill that you should never let a good crisis go to waste.Last year, they were among the first to call on the government to seize the opportunity afforded by covid to rethink immigration policy and the government has responded...

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