Edited by me for length from original title "‘Hollowing out’: New Zealand grapples with an uncertain future as record numbers leave"

> “This is a hollowing out of this demographic of mid-career workers, who in reality do the bulk of the work,” said Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub. “That’s the jaws of death closing, and then we have labour market problems.”

> The high cost of living, along with wages, job conditions and difficulty finding employment were among the reasons given for moving by those spoken to by the Guardian. Many did not want to leave, but felt they were left with no option after struggling to get by.

The labor market is not paying workers enough to retain them. Pay them more, or they will leave.