Paid caregivers and domestic workers: some policy issues in relation to meeting future demand in New Zealand

Abstract

In this paper we turn to two somewhat overlapping areas where we see potential future demand for lower-skill workers. These are domestic workers and caregivers for the elderly. In contrast to workers brought from overseas to pick fruit or prune vines, the workers we consider are either directly or indirectly caring for people. In this paper we consider the future demand for such workers; how we might meet this demand, particularly through migration; and, if we increasingly rely on migration, what are some of the key policy issues to consider.