Skilled migration bolsters Australia's workforce

Since the late 1940s, Australia has reaped great benefits from the migration of skilled workers into the country.

An overview of research by NCVER finds that skilled migrants are a major source of supply for occupations experiencing employment growth, especially in the professions and trades.

In 2004–05 alone, Australia experienced a net gain of around 46 000 skilled migrants and, with their numbers tripling in the past decade, skilled migrants now account for close to half of all incoming migration.

Overall, migrants constitute 11% of the workforce.

In response to skill shortages in some industries, there has been rapid growth in temporary migration in the last few years. In the main, this has comprised employer-sponsored, long-stay (‘class 457’) visas, the majority of recipients being qualified for specific professions and trades.

International students are another source of skilled migrants increasingly being tapped. Migrants who gain skills by studying in Australia have the advantage of already being acquainted with the country’s social and cultural customs.

A comprehensive points system, in which migration candidates must achieve a minimum score, is used to select skilled migrants. The system is tailored to favour particular industries and occupations most in need of skilled workers, as well as taking into account factors such as age, English language skills, and willingness to settle and work in regional areas.

Using refined and targeted selection processes, Australia is enhancing its workforce by attracting immigrants to fill its skills needs.

Skilled migration and the workforce: An overview is available at
www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1832.html