Shelter from the Global Economic Crisis: New Zealand and Overseas-Born Employees' Concerns and Migration Intentions

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the personal effect of the global crisis on both New Zealanders and migrants, as well as their intentions and reasons to stay or migrate to another country. Using a mixed method design, we investigated the major concerns of workers in the Wellington region during 2009 and 2010. The main concerns were: salary, workload, job security, disposable income, work budget and job opportunity. New Zealand-born participants were as likely as migrants to express interest in leaving due to the state of the economy. However, overseas-born participants were more likely than New Zealand-born participants to say they would leave if they lost their job.