If you tuned into Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s budget last week, you too would have questions about migration. Migration didn’t make the cut in the Treasurer’s speech and breakdown of the budget, but don’t worry, we’re going to provide you with everything you need to know about the future of Australia’s migration program.
Skilled migrants
Skilled migrants are set to see their path to Australia even more feasible, as around 10,000 places will be redistributed from the partner program to skilled stream visas, in recognition of both the fall in the number of on-hand Partner visa applications and the need for further support towards economic recovery. This will result in an increase of 30,000 skilled stream visas, which will account for 70% of the total 109,900 places, as broken down in the table below.
Credit: Ethos Migration Lawyers
The Occupation Lists
The Federal Government ‘s national casting list in their migration show, otherwise called the Occupation List, has received calls to be scrapped. The list has been dubbed a ‘bureaucratic’, inflexible approach, hard for businesses to resolve the Australian market’s universal demand and supply issues. However, the government has committed to reviewing the occupation lists that currently dictates what jobs are eligible for skilled migration visas. This gives hope to industries outside of the priorities which too have felt the pressure of the drop in migration since the pandemic.
In light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and business’ and industry’s economic recovery needs, the Australian Government has also introduced a new legislative instrument referred to as the Migration (Specified persons and periods of time for regulation 5.19) Instrument (LIN 22/038) 2022. This new legislation will provide additional permanent residency pathways to additional and specified visa holders who stayed in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regional Visas
What we know is that Australia is climbing the ranks as a world-class manufacturing sector, with much of this taking place out in the regions. So, it was good news to hear that regional visas will more than double, to 25,000 places to support growth in regional Australia.
With the Pipeline of projects both underway and upcoming, this new funding for migration, and increase in skilled streams will go a way to solve for vulnerabilities in our supply chains.
Migrant skills Incentives
In fact, the Federal Government hasn’t just planned for future migrants, but also focused on targeting existing migrants, to provide greater opportunities and join the workforce to address skills shortages. The three Migrant Skills Incentives will benefit migrants who are either already in Australia or underway in their migration process to Australia:
- For those migrants who have already submitted and paid for an application in a priority occupation, will now be given the opportunity of a fast-tracked skills assessment to join the workforce as soon as possible.
- For onshore migrants already residing in Australia on a permanent visa, the opportunity of a free fast-tracked skills assessment to improve their employment options in their nominated occupation.
- For skilled migrants working below their skill level, a free employability assessment and access to a subsidised training program to acquire the specific skills required in the Australian Market.
These incentives will go a long way. We continuously come across untapped talent in Australia who are either held back by the loopholes of skills assessment, or not having the technical training needed to satisfy a role’s key criteria in job applications.
As we enter in the second quarter of the year, we are already starting to see the market shift, as the borders begin to open, COVID-19 restrictions ease from minimal to none, students return, and internally we are even looking forward to welcoming 2x offshore recruitment specialists to our team, through our employer sponsored visa program!