Nokia employees unfold banners during protest denouncing plans to cut jobs at Nokia's Berlin branch in Berlin
Job quality in Canada is at a record low and there is no sign of a turn-around in the immediate future. This was stated in the findings of the Canadian Employment Quality Index, compiled by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. IN PHOTO: Trade union representatives and Nokia employees unfold banners during a protest denouncing plans to cut jobs at the Berlin branch of the Finnish technology firm, in front of the building of Nokia in Berlin June 16, 2014. Reuters/Stringer

The upcoming New Zealand's job expo in Sydney will see New Zealand's Economic development agency Grow Wellington, pitching the Wellington region as a major choice for skilled New Zealanders and Australians to relocate.

Gerard Quinn, CEO, Grow Wellington chief, said it will be showcasing more than 2,000 job vacancies in the Wellington region, spread in the sectors such as ICT, engineering, healthcare, accounting and government, reported Scoop News, Wellington. Sydney job fair, he said, offers a significant multi-sector opportunity for skilled talent attraction. To be held in Sydney on Nov 29 to 30, the jobs fair is significant because Sydney is the location. Quinn noted that Sydney has a greater population than the whole of New Zealand and is home to 100,000 New Zealanders. "We are going to showcase the Wellington region as the High Tech Capital, and a great place to live and work," the CEO said.

New Zealand's joblessness rate has been at 5.4 percent in the June and September quarters, which is the lowest since December 2008. As a result, New Zealand is targeting Australians and Kiwi expats to fill the gaps under a booming economy.

Aussie Recruitment

Now New Zealnd jobs are up for grabs for Australians, Quinn gave the rationale of hiring Australian residents. It is considerably easier than international recruitment from other regions. The advantage with Australia is similar work cultures, cheaper relocation costs and zero visa costs. "Add this to Wellington's reputation as an innovative, well-connected city with a fantastic mix of lifestyle and culture, and we become a very attractive proposition," Quinn noted. The Sydney jobs expo comes at a time when Statistics New Zealand figures are showing that migration to New Zealand is hitting record highs with the biggest-ever net gain of 47,684 people from Januaryn2014 to end of October, compared to 17,684 in the previous 12 months. In March, Grow Wellington marketed the region at the South West technology and business trade show in Texas.

Tackling Skill Shortage

An ABC news report also referred to New Zealand's problem in skills shortage and the government's target to overcome it by luring talent from Australia. With that objective, New Zealand jobs fairs are becoming common all across Australia to address the issue of skills shortage. New Zealand's employment minister, Stephen Joyce, told ABC News that the country wanted to add more skill sets. "Computer software and design is important - we have some very good companies that are growing in that area and frankly we are being held back by the lack of experienced staff," the minister said. The John Key government expects the New Zealand economy to generate 50,000 new jobs over the next two years.