Employers are being urged to weigh the pros and cons of relying on foreign-workers

New research reveals 85-percent of hiring managers in Australia and New Zealand report skills gaps, with 37-percent of employers turning to overseas talent.

A lack of technical-proficiency and problem-solving are most significant.

However, Hays Asia Pacific Managing Director Shane Little says counting on migrants carries risks and costs such as visas and a lengthy hiring process.

He says settling in and learning the language also delays productivity, which is harder to put a number on.