The positive margin between immigrants & emigrants dropped from 1600 a year ago to just 300 in December, reducing the net annual inflow of migrants by 57%, from 34,900 in 2003 to 15,100.
Thursday, February 10th 2005, 5:43PM
by The Landlord
The net inflow peaked at 42,500 in mid-2003. The 2004 figure, while well down from the peak, is still 10% above the average for the previous 10 years of a 13,700 net inflow.
But there’s been no Government indication of any attempt to halt the slide, which in itself is an indication that the Government will use lower migrant numbers to deflate labour requirements & a wage spiral rather than introduce more migrants to satisfy the clamour to fill vacancies.
Statistics NZ said the fall in net permanent & long-term arrivals resulted from 400 fewer arrivals & 800 more departures. New Zealand citizen arrivals fell by 400, while New Zealand citizen departures increased by 500.
The fall in the annual migrant inflow resulted from 80,500 arrivals (down 12,200) and 65,400 departures (up 7600). Non-NZ citizen arrivals were down 9600, departures up 3300. NZ citizen arrivals fell by 2600, departures rose by 4300.
