Any adjustment to immigration rules that reduced in-demand skills will have serious implications for businesses, BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope says. If New Zealand could not supply the skilled people needed to help businesses grow, it had to import those skills. Mr Hope took issue with a recent Salvation Army report that said young unemployed New Zealanders were not getting employment opportunities because of unfair competition from migrant workers. The report "What Next — Addressing New Zealand’s Youth Unemployment" said 75,000 unemployed New Zealanders would take work if it was available. Business NZ was hugely supportive of getting young people into work but the debate had to be balanced with facts, Mr Hope said.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 20, 2016 17:03 UTC