Work visa numbers drop by more than 50% year-on-year

Work visa numbers drop by more than 50% year-on-year
High net migration numbers are starting to turn thanks to a slowing economy. (Image: Alex Burton)
Dileepa Fonseka
After months of historically high levels of immigration, New Zealand may have reached a turning point with monthly work visa numbers falling and immigration flows on the decline. The number of applications for Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWVs) has more than halved from 6,414 in April 2023 to 2,788 last month.These numbers only represent the number of people who have applied for AEWVs, not those who have been given visas.Year-on-year numbers for AEWVs have declined every month this year, falling 27% in January, 53% in February and 32%...

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