It’s high time the skilled migration jobs list was reviewed and updated, and more than half of the jobs removed, as they are not true skill shortages or job vacancies. This means the wrong overseas people are being given skilled migration visas and true job shortages are not being filled. Australians can do all of the jobs on the list, and many don’t require any qualifications at all (e.g. hotel manager, author, caravan park manager or dog handler).
There are very few jobs on the list that truly have skill shortages, such as doctors, nurses, aged care workers, teachers, engineers and construction workers. The rest of the jobs should be deleted to make sure people coming to Australia will genuinely fill a skilled shortage vacancy.
The out of date skilled migration jobs list is very unfair to overseas jobseekers, who are under the impression that if they are granted a visa then they will be able to easily get a job. Fifty percent of overseas people granted skilled migrant visas can’t find work in their profession years after arriving in Australia, either because vacancies are limited, their qualifications aren’t recognised, they have insufficient English skills or lack local experience. Rather than return home to their professions these so-called skilled migrants end up in menial jobs such as Uber drivers and cleaners.
The list inexplicably includes jobs that need Australian specialised knowledge, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, solicitor and taxation accountant.
Many jobs on the list are fiercely contested for by Australians such as fashion designer, interior designer, environmental scientist, librarian and marine biologist. There are no vacancies for foreign applicants. The list also includes jobs in dying industries such as printing machinist.
The list is a complete betrayal of all Australian citizens who studied or are studying for careers in TAFE or university, who are then forced to compete with overseas qualified people, who often will accept exploitative lower pay and conditions. There are 3.6 million unemployed and underemployed people in Australia who deserve employment priority over foreigners.
The list really begs the question – who created the list and on what basis were jobs added to it? Were there ever genuine shortages? Is it ever reviewed to ensure accuracy?
Sustainable Population Australia calls on the Albanese government to urgently review the skilled occupation list and ensure it only includes jobs that genuinely have skills shortages.
SPA calls upon the government to make sure that overseas applicant’s qualifications are accepted in Australia before issuing skilled migrant visas.
SPA calls on the government to require overseas applicants to be sponsored by an employer before being granted a skilled visa. More information can be read in the SPA briefing note ‘Six Great Immigration Solutions‘.
Our media release to journalists may be read HERE.
The below list of 691 jobs are what SPA consider to be reviewed for deletion:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health WorkerAccommodation and Hospitality ManagerAccountant (General)Actors, Dancers and Other EntertainersAcupuncturistAmbulance OfficerAmusement Centre Manager
Analyst Programmer
Antique Dealer
Apiarist
Arborist
Archaeologist
Archivist
Art Director (Film, Television or Stage)
Art Teacher (Private Tuition)
Arts Administrator or Manager
Auctioneer
Author
Barrister
Beauty therapist
Betting Agency Manager
Biochemist
Boarding Kennel or Cattery Operator
Book or Script Editor
Butcher or Smallgoods Maker
Caravan Park and Camping Ground Manager
Careers Counsellor
Chemistry Technician
Child Care Centre Manager
Cinema or Theatre Manager
Clothing Trades Workers nec
Community Arts Worker
Community Worker
Composer
Computer Network and Systems Engineer
Conference and Event Organiser
Conservation Officer
Content Creator (Marketing)
Copywriter
Customer Service Manager
Dance Teacher (Private Tuition)
Dancer or Choreographer
Database Administrator
Dental Hygienist
Developer Programmer
Dietitian
Director (Film, Television, Radio or Stage)
Dog Handler or Trainer
Drama Teacher (Private Tuition)
Dressmaker or Tailor
Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
Economist
Electorate Officer
Entertainer or Variety Artist
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Health Officer
Environmental Research Scientist
Environmental Scientists nec
Equipment Hire Manager
Facilities Manager
Fashion Designer
Film and Video Editor
Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors nec
First Aid Trainer
Fitness Centre Manager
Florist
Footballer
Funeral Director
Funeral Workers nec
Gallery or Museum Curator
Gallery or Museum Technician
Health Promotion Officer
Historian
Homeopath
Horse Breeder
Horse Riding Coach or Instructor
Horse Trainer
Hotel or Motel Manager
Hotel Service Manager
Human Resource Adviser
Human Resource Manager
ICT Account Manager
ICT Business Analyst
ICT Business Development Manager
ICT Customer Support Officer
ICT Managers
ICT Project Manager
ICT Sales Representative
ICT Support Technicians
ICT Trainer
Illustrator
Insurance Agent
Insurance Broker
Insurance Investigator
Insurance Loss Adjuster
Intensive Care Ambulance Paramedic
Interior Decorator
Interior Designer
Jeweller
Jockey
Journalists and Other Writers
Kennel Hand
Laboratory Manager
Landscape Gardener
Leather Goods Maker
Legal Secretary
Librarian
Library Technician
Licensed Club Manager
Lifeguard
Make Up Artist
Marine Biologist
Market Research Analyst
Marketing Specialist
Massage Therapist
Mathematician
Meat Inspector
Media Producer (excluding Video)
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Medical Laboratory Technician
Meteorologist
Microbiologist
Migration Agent (Aus)
Music Director
Music Professionals
Music Teacher (Private Tuition)
Musician (Instrumental)
Naturopath
Network Administrator
Network Analyst
Newspaper or Periodical Editor
Nurseryperson
Nutritionist
Occupational Health and Safety Adviser
Occupational Therapist
Office Manager
Painter
Park Ranger
Pastrycook
Pathology Collector
Performing Arts Technicians nec
Pet Groomer
Pharmacy Technician
Photographer
Photographer’s Assistant
Post Office Manager
Potter or Ceramic Artist
Print Journalist
Printing Machinist
Program Director (Television or Radio)
Program or Project Administrator
Property Manager
Public Relations Manager
Public Relations Professional
Quality Assurance Manager
Radio Journalist
Radio Presenter
Railway Station Manager
Real Estate Agency Principal (Aus)
Real Estate Agent
Real Estate Representative
Records Manager
Recreation Officer
Recruitment Consultant
Regulatory Affairs Manager
Respiratory Technician
Retail Manager (General)
Retirement Village Manage
Safety Inspector
Sales and Marketing Manager
Sales Representative (Industrial Products
Sales Representative (Medical and Pharmaceutical Products)
Science Technicians nec
Screen Printer
Sculptor
Secretary (General)
Security Consultant
Shoemaker
Signwriter
Singer
Software and Applications Programmers nec
Software Engineer
Software Tester
Solicitor
Sound Technician
Sports Administrator
Sports Centre Manager
Sports Development Officer
Sports Umpire
Sportspersons nec
Stage Manager
Swimming Coach or Instructor
Systems Administrator
Systems Analyst
Taxation Accountant
Technical Sales Representatives nec
Technical Writer
Television Journalist
Television Presenter
Tennis Coach
Travel Agency Manager
University Lecturer
University Tutor
Urban and Regional Planner
Web Administrator
Web Designer
Web Developer
Welfare Centre Manager
Zookeeper
Zoologist