THE DEPARTMENT OF TRAINING
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Quarterly migration brief
September 2013
w: dtwd.wa.gov.au
QUARTERLY SKILLED MIGRATION BRIEF
SEPTEMBER 2013
Skilled Migration
The Department of Training and Workforce Development’s (DTWD) role is to support the State’s
sustained economic expansion through promoting the development of the State’s workforce. One
aspect of this includes strategies to supplement the State’s workforce with skilled migrants where
employment vacancies cannot be filled from the domestic workforce.
Within the Commonwealth Government’s national skilled migration system, as the State
Government’s appointed agency, DTWD manages two permanent migration programs: the State
Nominated Migration Program (SNMP); and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). 1
The State Government also has a key role in advocating Western Australia’s position on skilled
migration policy to ensure the national skilled migration system is more responsive to the needs of
the State’s employers 2.
Temporary Migration
Figure 1:
200.0
Western Australian 457 Visa Grants and
the Level of Job Advertising over time
5000
4500
Internet Vacancy Index
180.0
4000
160.0
3500
140.0
3000
120.0
2500
100.0
2000
1500
80.0
60.0
40.0
Jan-06
Source:
1000
WA IVI
Aust IVI
457's / Quarter
500
0
Jan-07
Jan-08
Jan-09
Jan-10
Jan-11
Jan-12
Jan-13
Number of Western Australian 457 Grants per quarter
457 Visa Grants
Within the temporary skilled migration program the Temporary Work (Skilled) – Standard Business
Sponsorship (subclass 457) visa is the most utilised. It can be seen from Figure 1 that the movement
of Western Australia’s Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) 3 is generally reflected in the number of 457 visa
grants.
Department of Employment Internet Vacancy Index, October 2013 (January 2006 = index of 100)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (various issues), Subclass 457
State/Territory Summary Report, Commonwealth of Australia, ACT.
1
For more information, see www.migration.wa.gov.au.
For more information, see The Western Australian Skilled Migration Strategy, at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au.
3
The Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) is published by the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Employment, and is
based on a count of online job vacancies newly lodged on SEEK, My Career, CareerOne and Australian JobSearch.
2
5
Continuing the trend of the last 12 months there has been a decline in 457 visa grants for positions in
Western Australia over the last quarter. While both have levelled out in the last quarter after recent
falls, the Western Australian IVI remains well above the overall IVI of Australia.
Western Australia received 16.8% of Australia’s 457 grants in the first quarter of 2013-14 which was
down 4.6% when compared to 2012-13 and continues the recent downward trend from a high of
23.8% in 2011-12.
The fluctuations in Western Australia’s share of the 457 grants are in line with the changes in the IVI
above suggesting the Western Australian demand for 457 visa workers reacts more to changes in
advertising levels than Australia as a whole.
Figure 2: Top five industries for visas granted to 457 primary applicants 2006-2007 to
2013-14 YTD (30/9/2013) for Western Australia
100%
90%
457 Visas Granted
80%
42%
38%
35%
70%
60%
50%
6%
5%
3%
40%
30%
26%
6%
10%
4%
29%
29%
31%
3%
3%
9%
4%
8%
9%
10%
4%
14%
13%
6%
3%
26%
26%
18%
16%
18%
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
27%
24%
22%
33%
33%
6%
8%
9%
11%
12%
14%
19%
16%
20%
10%
21%
26%
25%
23%
2011-12
2012-13
18%
0%
2009-10
2010-11
Financial Year
2013-14 YTD
(30/9)
Construction
Mining
Other Services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Accommodation and Food Services
Remaining 14 industries
Note:
The data are for the financial year ending 30 June.
Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection (various issues).
Subclass 457 State/Territory Summary Report, Commonwealth of Australia, ACT.
While Construction and Mining are still the industries that have the highest proportion of 457 visa grants
the proportions decreased for the first quarter of 2013-14 continuing the trend of recent years. The
proportion of 457 visa grants for Other Services, Health Care and Social Assistance and
Accommodation and Food Services increased over the last quarter, also continuing recent trends. Also
in the quarter Accommodation and Food Services re-entered the top five industries for the first time
since 2008-09, replacing Manufacturing which fell to 6th.
457 Labour Market Testing
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has introduced Labour Market Testing
for the 457 visa program effective 23 November 2013 to ensure that the programme is only used to
meet genuine skill shortages and cannot be used by businesses that do not make genuine efforts to
provide employment opportunities to Australians.
Labour market testing will not be required where it would be inconsistent with Australia’s international
trade obligations. In addition, some occupations are exempted by legislative instrument from labour
market testing.
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Further information can be found on the DIBP website under the heading “Who can nominate” at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/457.aspx
Permanent Migration
Permanent Resident Visa Grants
Another pathway for skilled migrants to enter Western Australia is as permanent residents. Under the
permanent skilled stream, there are seven categories: Employer Sponsored; Skilled Sponsored;
Skilled Independent; Business Skill; State and Territory Nominated (Sponsored); Distinguished Talent
and Skilled Family Sponsored; with the figures shown below released at the end of each program
year.
Figure 3:
1500
Permanent residency primary visa grants per
month, 2007-08 to 2012-13 for Western Australia
Employer Nominated
Scheme
Visa Grants
Skilled Independent
1000
State Sponsored
Skilled Regional
500
Business Skills
Skilled Family
Sponsored
0
Jul-07
Jul-08
Jul-09
Jul-10
Jul-11
Jul-12
Distinguished Talent
Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Migration Programme Outcome (unpublished data).
When comparing 2012-13 to 2011-12, Western Australia’s share of Australia’s permanent skilled visa
grants remained constant at 16% of national grants.
In 2012-13 the three categories: Employer Sponsored; Skilled Independent; and State and Territory
Nominated (Sponsored); accounted for almost all (95%) of skilled visa grants.
Overall the number of permanent residency visa grants increased 5% to 10 119 in 2012-13, from
9 621 in 2011-12. While levels remained fairly constant for the first half of 2012-13 there was a
marked increase in the number of visas granted over the second half of the year. This pattern also
occurred in 2011-12 although to a lesser degree and most likely reflects the DIBP increasing output
to ensure the year’s migration targets were met.
Two ANZSCO groups, Professional (ANZSCO 2) and Technicians & Trade Workers (ANZSCO 3)
again accounted for the vast majority (83%) of the permanent residency visa grants for Western
Australia for the year 2012-13 4. The number of visa grants for Engineering ICT and Science
Technicians increased slightly, overtaking Construction Trades Workers which fell to 7th. From
2011-12 to 2012-13 Design, Engineering, Science and Transport Professionals, the ANZSCO
subgroup with the largest number of 457 grants, increased along with Business, Human Resource &
4
Department of Immigration and Border Protection unpublished data.
7
Marketing Professionals. The number of visa grants for Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers
and Food Trades Workers declined slightly.
Figure 4: The top six ANZSCO sub-major groups for primary grants
of permanent skilled visas for WA, 2006-07 to 2012-13
7000
Permanent Visa Grants
6000
5000
4000
3000
1%
10%
9%
4%
2%
8%
10%
4%
18%
17%
14%
15%
2006-07
2007-08
2000
1000
0
2%
10%
3%
12%
12%
15%
5%
19%
17%
4%
7%
16%
13%
5%
16%
17%
2008-09 2009-10
Financial Year
14%
15%
2010-11
4%
5%
8%
7%
8%
13%
10%
12%
12%
9%
19%
16%
2011-12
2012-13
23 Design, Engineering,
Science and Transport
Professionals
22 Business, Human Resource
and Marketing Professionals
35 Food Trades Workers
32 Automotive and
Engineering Trades Workers
25 Health Professionals
31 Engineering, ICT and
Science Technicians
Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Migration Programme Outcome (unpublished data).
Business Migration
The key role of the Business Migration Program is to attract business migrants to Western Australia
to invest in its economic growth and development. The Program, managed by the Small Business
Development Corporation, is a successful investment attraction initiative for Western Australia with
over $435 million invested in Western Australian businesses and bonds over the past four years. The
program demonstrates that business migrants make a significant contribution to the State’s economic
prosperity by being a leading source of new capital investment, business establishment, export
income and employment generation.
In 2012-13, the SBDC granted State nomination for 302 business migrants to invest in Western
Australia, from 26 countries including China, South Africa, the UK, Malaysia and Singapore.
From 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013, 135 business migrants granted permanent residency visas
finalised their investment in Western Australia.
The table below shows the confirmed economic benefit of the business migration program to Western
Australia for this period and the impact on the State’s economy for the financial year under review.
Table 1: Confirmed WA Investment from Permanent Residency Business Visa Holders
BUSINESS
MIGRATION
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
Total Capital Inflow
$267,664,550 $293,437,685 $304,524,805
$260,502,656
Capital invested in
Business
$71,889,383
$109,194,262 $104,316,671
$77,966,279
Capital invested in
WA Treasury Bonds
$12,000,000
$18,750,000
$20,500,000
(includes personal assets)
8
$21,000,000
Jobs Created
254
227
145
90
Businesses Exporting
30
20
21
13
The BIIP visas underwent a major update for the 2012-13 program year with 13 subclasses
consolidated into three subclasses when the DIBP introduced the new Business Innovation and
Investment Program for business migrants to come to Australia. The Business Talent visa (subclass
132) offers direct permanent residency, while the Business Innovation and Investment visas have
various streams that offer a four year provisional visa (subclass 188) with a pathway to permanent
residency (subclass 888). The Business Innovation and Investment program introduced two key
changes over the previous Business Migration Program which will affect the program in the future
delivering lower numbers of business migrants but of a higher economic value:
1. Business migrants can no longer apply for a business visa without the nomination of a State or
Territory government; and
2. Personal criteria for entry into Australia as a business migrant was significantly increased and
financial requirements in the main visas were increased by over 50 per cent.
Businesses established by migrants with confirmed investments range across the full spectrum of
business activity in the State. Export businesses are, in the main, focused on agricultural products
and mining resources.
The Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP), is accessed via a State Nomination
Application on the Business Migration Centre website (www.businessmigration.wa.gov.au ) followed
by an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect.
Contact details:
Small Business Development Corporation
Address: Level 2, 140 William Street, Perth
Telephone: 12 12 49 or international +61 8 6552 3300
Email: [email protected]
Skilled Migration WA
Western Australia has been allocated 25% of the State and Territory visa nominations available
nationally for 2013-14 which is consistent with the last 3 years. The State Nominated Migration
Program is a targeted program designed to address skill shortages in the State. Nominations are
allocated to candidates with occupations on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List
which is updated annually to include those occupations which will enhance the level of human capital,
have long lead times for education and/or training, or are not adequately covered by other migration
programs.
The DTWD’s Skilled Migration WA (SMWA) manages applications for State nomination and also
applications for certification advice for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. SMWA staff are
also available to respond to email and telephone enquiries, providing information to intending
migrants and employers about the State’s requirements for these two programs.
Contact details:
Skilled Migration Western Australia
Address: Level 2, 166 Murray Street, Perth
Telephone: 13 23 98 or international +61 8 9224 6593
Email: [email protected]
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