Australia's proving to be stiff competition for New Zealand's labour market

Stats NZ data reveals there was a provisional net migration loss of five-thousand-800 people across the Tasman last year.

Six-thousand New Zealanders shifted to other countries - the first annual net migration loss to the rest of the world since 1980.

Employers and Manufacturers Association chief executive Brett O'Riley says it's a real body blow for businesses in New Zealand.

He says we're losing so many of our best and brightest - the next generation of talent that businesses are crying out for.