Women, Skills and Global Mobility: A Study of Changing Patterns of Gendered Skilled Migration into New Zealand

According to the 2003 ILO report, female migrants constitute nearly 51 percent of all migrants in developed countries and about 46 percent of all migrants in developing countries. The global presence of women in migration is also reflected in the increase of women using what have been male dominated migration streams (UN World Survey 2004). Skilled migration flows in New Zealand is important to the Department of Labour’s goal of building New Zealand’s workforce and attracting (and retaining) top talent in New Zealand to contribute to New Zealand’s economic transformation. This paper looks at trends in the proportion of female and make principal applicants who have migrated to New Zealand through the General Skills and Skilled Migrant Category from 1997/98 to 2005/06. It also examines changes in source countries of these female migrants and examines gender differences in outcomes for skilled migrants. From 1997 /98 to 2001/02 the number of female and male migrants entering New Zealand through the skilled categories increased exponentially. Although the proportion of female to male migrants for the skilled categories is low (1:2) throughout the 1997/98 to 2005/06 period, the number of women to men from certain source countries (for example, China, Philippines and Japan) increased or remained high during this period. Results from the Department of Labour’s Settlement Experiences Feedback Survey (survey sent to Skilled/Business stream migrants) shows that while the majority of both female and male principal applicants were employed (94%) there are substantial differences in occupation, industry and incomes between female and male skilled migrants. This paper shows that there is huge diversity of flows by gender and nationality. However, the data show that overall women are critical players in the migrations process and are a significant component of skilled migrants in New Zealand. Gender differences need to be considered when developing policies or programmes to attract skilled migrants as well as with their successful settlement