Christchurch's post-quake international workforce is increasing, according to figures from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The figures show 719 skilled workers have identified themselves as coming to Christchurch for the post-earthquake rebuild.
The figures show 404 work visas were issued to immigrants in the past six months, compared to 206 in the first half of the year.
Recruitment company director Leanne Crozier says highly skilled roles - such as quantity surveyors and project managers - are increasingly being filled by immigrants.
Ms Crozier says employers would prefer to recruit locally but the supply is not there.
But the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce says the figures are likely to be higher as many people working in the city hold different types of paperwork, such as British and Irish working visas.