Queenstown may have fewer overseas workers for the coming winter season, Immigration New Zealand figures show.
About 960 work-permit applications were accepted by the Queenstown immigration office between January 1 and March 31.
That was a drop of 7% on the 1030 work-permit applications accepted by the office in the corresponding period last year, department spokeswoman Debbie Hannan said.
About 800 work permits were granted to overseas workers coming to Queenstown last winter, Ms Hannan said.
The waiting time for work permits in Queenstown was about two weeks.
Snowsport instructors and technicians were on the department's immediate skill-shortage list.
Other occupations on the list for the Otago region include glider pilot and skydive instructors, skydive tandem masters, foreman, architect, dentist, medical practitioners and gas-fitter.
Ms Hannan said the Queenstown branch worked closely with Work and Income to identify worker shortages in the resort.
"A list of positions for which Work and Income are unable to refer suitably qualified New Zealand workers for is revised and reviewed on a quarterly basis," she said.
"The current list identifies shortages in predominantly hospitality-focused occupations."
The number of applications lodged at the Queenstown branch had dropped, Ms Hannan said.
However, the figures did not include other people who might have applied for a visa offshore, such as those on working-holiday visas.
NZSki Ltd human resources manager Kevin Sharpe said the company was employing fewer workers from overseas because more New Zealanders were looking for work this winter.
