The Australian Government has commenced a review of the skilled migration occupation lists, welcoming feedback from interested stakeholders, particularly those in regional areas.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Michaelia Cash, said the department review of the skilled migration occupation list was to ensure it is responsive to genuine skill needs and regional variations across Australia.
“As a Government, our role is to ensure that Australian employers can access workers with the skills needed to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow when they can’t be met by the domestic workforce,” the Minister said.
Minister Cash reiterated the Morrison Government’s skilled migration policies were underpinned by the principle that Australian workers are considered first for jobs.
“As part of the review, my department will consult with industry, employers, unions and individuals in developing advice for the Morrison Government on the occupations required to meet the labour market needs of the Australian economy.”
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, David Coleman, said the Government’s skilled migration program is focussed on ensuring employers can access workers to fill critical skills shortages, particularly in regional Australia.
“We’ve allocated 23,000 regional migration places, introduced two new regional visas and signed Designated Area Migration Agreements around the country to attract migrants to the regions, help towns grow and to fill some of the 60,000 job vacancies in regional Australia,” Minister Coleman said.
“The Morrison Government is continuing to look closely at ways of filling these skills gaps in regional areas and giving businesses more certainty and confidence that they can get the workers they need, when they need them,” he added.
Occupation lists underpin a range of employer-sponsored, points tested and state-nominated visa programs. This review will inform the next update to the lists in March 2020.
Article published 4th March 2019