‘‘They know they need talent . . . but they can’t necessarily afford to pay to match inflation.’’

Shay Peters

Managing director, Robert Walters in Australia and New Zealand

He also expected a net loss of young professionals from migration next year. That could be expected to assist those who remained in their pay negotiations.

Stats NZ has reported an apparent turnaround in migration, estimating the number of people arriving in New Zealand who will stay for more than a year outnumbered those departing for a year or more by 4559 between July and September.

But Peters believed that could be a sugar-hit from people on working holiday visas arriving in the country, rather than a turnaround in long-term migration.

Immigration Minister Michael Wood said yesterday that more than 20,000 people had arrived on working holiday visas since the border reopened earlier this year.

Peters said the working holiday community was an important work force across a number of different sectors.

‘‘But one of my major concerns is the fact that we’re going to be losing young professionals overseas next year. There’s pent-up demand for people wanting to do OEs and we can’t hide from that as a country.

‘‘I don’t think that the talent coming in is necessarily the same match that’s going out.’’

That left employers between ‘‘a rock and a hard place’’, he said.

‘‘They know they need talent to be able to grow and to continue their operations, but they can’t necessarily afford to pay to match inflation.’’ ‘‘Non-monetary solutions’’ included improving their workplace culture and working environment, and offering more flexibility and potentially more annual leave, he said.

‘‘One of the things that we’re doing at the moment is putting on breakfast in the mornings. It’s simple toast and cereal and stuff, but it all helps.’’