The number of overseas workers in New Zealand has stablised at around 200,000 after a period of high volatility

The number of people in New Zealand on work visas appears to be stabilising at around 200,000.

The latest figures from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment show 202,482 people in NZ on work visas at the end of February this year.

As the graph below shows, the number of overseas workers appears to have settled into a period of relative stability, following several years of high volatility.

Foreign worker numbers grew steadily from just under 130,000 at the end of 2015 to a peak of more than 220,000 in early 2020.

However, their numbers then declined sharply over 2020 and 2021. Firstly due to pandemic travel restrictions, and then due to the mass granting of around 200,000 residence visas to overseas workers by the last Labour Government ahead of the 2023 General Election.

That saw the number of people on work visas drop away sharply to a low point of just under 109,000 in September 2022 as people on work visas transferred to residence visas under Labour's fast track scheme.

However, their numbers began to steadily increase again through 2023 and hit the 200,000 mark in March 2024.

With some monthly and seasonal variations, their numbers have remained at about 200,000 ever since, suggesting overseas worker numbers have entered a period of relative stability, at least for the time being.