Australia Unveils Immigration Package Designed To Address Its Skills And Labour Shortage

19/02/2008

Australia is relaxing its migration program to allow more skilled workers into the country where the jobless rate is at a three-decade low and most companies face a labour shortage.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans stated:" The package has the potential to provide thousands of additional workers in the short term, especially for the labour-strapped mining and construction industries".

Senator Evans said the package would complement the Rudd Government's move to fast-track the establishment of Skills Australia in order to help boost the productive capacity of the Australian economy and fight inflation.

Industries affected by the skills shortage.

The Minister mentioned that concerns had been raised by the states and a number of industries regarding their ability to rapidly start up new and significant projects because of skilled labour shortages.

To specifically assist the construction industry, changes to the Working Holiday visa program will enable people who undertake at least three months work in the construction sector in regional Australia to extend their 12 month working holiday visa by another year.

'It is estimated that extending this working holiday visa concession to work in the construction industry in regional Australia could attract a further 5000 workers to that industry alone,' Senator Evans said.

The Figures

As an immediate measure, the Skilled Migration program will be increased by 6000 places in 2007-08. The increase will be made up of permanent employer sponsored visas and General Skilled Migration visas.

The General Skilled Migration program selects people with the right skills and qualifications to work in industries where labour is in demand. The additional 6000 places will bring to 108 500 the total number of permanent visas granted under the Skill Stream of the migration program in 2007-08.

The Senator also mentioned that negotiations were also underway with other countries to expand Working Holiday visa program for young people. The number of people on Working Holiday visas has grown from 85 200 in 2001-02 to 126 600 in 2006-07.

The External Reference Group

The External Reference Group is made up of industry experts who will also examine how selected temporary skilled migration measures can help ease labour shortages in the medium to long term.

'The group will provide me with specific advice on ways to ensure the temporary work visa system, also known as the subclass 457 visa program, operates as effectively as possible in contributing to the supply of skilled labour,' Senator Evans said.

The Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457) allows businesses to recruit skilled labour from overseas for temporary entry to Australia for between three months and four ears.

In addition to the new migration measures, Skills Australia will oversee the Rudd Government's commitment to providing an additional 450 000 training places over the next four years and 820 000 over the coming decade.

The first 20 000 of the Rudd Government's additional training places will be available by April.

To set your Australian visa application in motion today, visit the online assessment area.

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