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NZ: ICT workers out, taxi drivers in

If you're an ICT worker then things could be looking up.

According to reports, those prepared to up-stakes and jump the ditch to Oz might find themselves doing "very nicely thank you" -- and it's all because of a(nother) looming skills shortage in "The Lucky Country".

However, even if you're not keen to spend your arvos swatting flies from the barby, the Aussie demand for analysts, programmers, etc will still be good news because every Kiwi who heads across the Tasman makes your skills worth more here in GodZone.

And, if other reports are to be believed, that could see smart techies in short supply, with resultant higher salaries and more bargaining power.

With almost 50% of ICT employers looking to recruit new staff this year, clearly those with the skills will be smiling all the way to the bank -- or at least they won't be flipping burgers at Micky-D's any more.

Unfortunately, for every up-side there's always a downside too.

How will this suggested skills shortage affect our ability to take advantage of the imminent economic recovery?

What point is there in making plans for a knowledge-based economy if, when we need them most, our best and brightest ICT workers have either skipped to Oz or simply don't exist in sufficient numbers to meet the demand?

And it's not just IT where we seem to have a problem. According to this NatRad story, only 42% of Kiwi scientists would recommend a career in science to young people.

Those surveyed also clearly felt that there were some major issues surrounding funding in the sciences.

Does that mean we'll lose more of our best and brightest to distant shores as the rest of the world's economy improves and the demand for qualified chemist, physicists and biologists begins to rise?

NZ has always had a "brain drain" problem with those who invest so much of their time, effort and money in achieving sought-after qualifications frequently leaving this wonderful land for locations where they can see a more effective return on that investment.

Politicians (in power at the time) are quick to attribute this exodus to "the great Kiwi OE" or other reasons that are clearly beyond their control. When in opposition however, the comments are often a little more accurate and focus on this country not offering the opportunities that our smart-people seek and deserve.

So what do we do?

As things improve globally, do we just sit back and watch our most valuable asset (our army if young, bright, innovative graduates and entrepreneurs) sail off into the sunset?

Or is it really time to turn things around and make NZ a destination for such people by providing the very things they seek.

If we don't do something then we run a huge risk of swapping our potential knowledge-based workforce for a bunch of relatively unskilled, unqualified immigrants who simply see NZ as a nice peaceful place to live.

While I have nothing against high levels of immigration, I really have to wonder if we need even more taxi-drivers with unrecognised medical degrees or corner-dairy proprietors.

Our current immigration policy seems to place more emphasis on a new arrival's ability to deposit a large amount of money into a bank account than it does on their ability to deliver useful and valuable skills to the nation -- that's wrong.

If we don't reverse the outward flow of Kiwis and the inward flow of taxi-drivers then we're headed for very big trouble and relegation to second-world status within a few short decades.

I know my calls fall on deaf (or should I say "closed") ears but I'm really hoping that the PM's speech today will signal that we have a government which is aware of the risks of the current setup and the potential associated with taking control of our future.

What do you reckon? A vain hope?

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