The Australian government has opened the door to more permanent migrants to ease the labor shortage

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government has increased the number of permanent migrant visas available for fiscal year 2022-23 from 160,000 to 195,000.

The Australian government is facing renewed calls to strengthen protection of migrant workers from exploitation and abuse after announcing it will increase permanent migration destinations to address skills and labor shortages across the country.

“Our immigration system can be a powerful promoter of Australia’s open, free, prosperous, democratic society around the world,” Home Secretary Claire O’Neill said in a statement announcing the changes dated September 2. Trade unions and business groups alike welcomed greater permanence for some migrant workers.

But according to Matt Kunkel, head of the Melbourne Center for Migrant Workers, temporary visa holders will still make up a very large part of the workforce. “Our statistics show that roughly two out of three people on temporary visas are experiencing some type of difficulty in the workplace,” he said.

“We can’t see a rise in the permanent migration numbers as a silver bullet to fix the system.”

Keep Reading

Job posting

Before the pandemic hit, Australia had the second largest temporary migrant workforce in the OECD, behind only the US.

But the strict border closures imposed in response to COVID-19 meant the country reported negative net migration in 2020-21 for the first time since World War II.

The think tank Grattan Institute estimates that there were 1.5 million temporary migrants in Australia in January 2022, compared to nearly 2 million in 2019. The total labor force in Australia is 13.6 million. Between 2012 and 2016, about 190,000 permanent visas were issued annually.

The decline in the number of migrant workers during COVID-19 has exacerbated existing skills shortages and left businesses from construction firms to health clinics, nursing homes and restaurants without the necessary staff.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a record 480,000 job openings in May 2022, more than double the number at the start of the pandemic in February 2020.

About Right Sider

Right sider is a passionate writer who has traveled extensively around the world, learning about the history of all the regions and walking the paths of his characters.

Right Sider

Right sider is a passionate writer who has traveled extensively around the world, learning about the history of all the regions and walking the paths of his characters.

Recent Posts

New Exit Rule for Expats in Kuwait: Key Details Inside

Kuwait is implementing a significant policy change: expatriate private sector employees must now secure an official exit permit from their…

June 11, 2025

Ria Launches Digital Wallet for Unbanked Migrant Workers—Know the Benefits

Ria Money Transfer has launched its Ria Wallet app which aims to assist one of the most underserved populations of…

June 11, 2025

50 Years of Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act – What Does It Really Mean Today?

The 50th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 is one of the highlight events in Australia’s human rights history.…

June 11, 2025

Google Layoffs Ahead? Buyouts Offered to Employees—Know the Details

Reports indicate that Google is preparing to conduct another round of layoffs, this time voluntarily offering exit packages (buyouts) to…

June 11, 2025

The New Career Currency: Why Top Talent Now Demands Both Big Salaries AND Work-Life Balance

The labor market in India is modernizing the expectations for any employment where paychecks were a major consideration, workers now…

June 10, 2025

ITR Filing 2025: Is Landlord’s PAN Mandatory to Claim HRA?

For Assessment Year 2025-26, the Income Tax Department has broadened its disclosure requirements for salaried taxpayers who are claiming House…

June 10, 2025