Total workforce, however, down for the first time in a decade
Nearly half of workers employed by tech companies in New Zealand are now based overseas, according to a new report.
The Deel report, carried out in collaboration with the Technology Investment Network, found that 47% of all workers hired by New Zealand's 200 largest technology exporters are based outside the country.
HealthTech firms logged the highest count of employees in international locations, with 5,065 employees. Others recorded:
According to the report, a total of 304 employees were hired in Australia in 2024, staying as one of the most important overseas talent regions for New Zealand.
But other regions also saw major new hire increases, such as Latin America (565) and Europe (215).
"New Zealand's tech exporters are increasingly global employers, now hiring and paying almost half their workforce in multiple international locations," said Shannon Karaka, Market Lead at Deel, New Zealand and Australia, in a statement.
"Their ability to quickly build diverse, borderless teams at scale is vital to unlock new opportunities and position for growth."
The findings come as the total workforce employed by the country's 200 largest tech exporting firms in ICT, High Tech Manufacturing, and Biotech went down for the first time in a decade.
They employed a total of 59,774 full-time employees as of June 2024, down by 0.8%.
Alex Dickson, Head of Research at Technology Investment Network, said New Zealand tech firms have been using dynamic hiring strategies to balance onshore and offshore expansion.
"This approach has been used with great effect to access talent, leverage local knowledge, and to create proximity — addressing areas where New Zealand faces inherent challenges," Dickson said.
The findings come amid tight competition for tech talent across the world. In Australia, it has been predicted that the country will need 1.3 million tech workers by 2030 based on current business demand.
