In a significant move impacting visa applications, Australia and New Zealand are introducing separate occupation classifications for foreign workers. The decision, announced on October 8th, reflects the dynamic changes in both countries’ labor markets and marks a departure from their long-standing joint system, the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
The Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand have independently unveiled their new systems, ensuring continued comparability for visa purposes while adapting to their respective national labor market realities. Australia will adopt the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) 2024, version 1.0, effective December 6, 2024. New Zealand, meanwhile, has implemented its National Occupation List (NOL), replacing ANZSCO on October 8th and subsequently releasing an updated version on October 11th.
This shift to separate classifications is attributed to the evolving nature of both countries’ labor markets, as stated by the Statistics Department of New Zealand. Dr. David Gruen, Australian Statistician, and Mark Sowden, New Zealand Government Statistician, emphasized the need for classifications that accurately reflect contemporary realities while maintaining vital Trans-Tasman comparisons.
The introduction of these new classifications brings changes to specific categories. In New Zealand, the updated NOL has removed the 311222 ECG technician category. Additionally, the code for medical pre-analytical technicians has changed from 311223 to 311222, while the code for clinical perfusionist has been adjusted from 311224 to 311223. Another notable change is the removal of 411313 Dementia Navigator, deemed a duplicate of 411718.
These changes, effective from November 20, 2024, in New Zealand, will have significant implications for individuals seeking work visas in either country. Prospective visa applicants will need to carefully review the new occupation classifications and ensure their skills and experience align with the revised codes and categories. The implementation of these separate classifications highlights the increasing need for countries to adapt their immigration policies and visa systems to reflect evolving national labor market dynamics.