Australian Immigration - Government Backs The Rise

July 27, 2008 by Mira

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The economic boom in Australia has warranted the Government of Australia to call for skills from outside and has resulted in mass immigration. As high as an 8.8% increase has been reported in Australian permanent immigrants. Many people favor the Australian immigration policy and believe it is going in the correct direction to tackle the situation.

Because of the aging workforce in Australia, there is great demand for skilled workers from outside the country. Because of the very low unemployment rate, immigration has been as the main solution to solve the skill shortage.

“Australia immigration has become increasingly popular,” says Erin Ryan of www.globalvisas.com“, as foreigners are flocking to the shores down under. “Australia is reaping the benefits of these skilled immigrants.”

Who are the Immigrants? What Kind of Skills?

A report says that New South Wales is the most preferred destination for immigrants - the majority of whom are people from UK and Europe.

There is a great demand in Australia for pilots, doctors, nurses, and other skilled workers and to tackle this problem, the government has relaxed the immigration policy . Wherever there is shortage of skills, people who are skilled in those areas will be given preference.

The government is also pondering over the idea of being more lenient to professional workers as they can deploy these people to mange the present economic growth.

According to a recent OECD report, the Australian economy depends strongly on immigrants.

about 25% of the workforces are foreign born

unemployment rate for migrants in Australia is the lowest in the OECD

education and employment are almost on par with the citizens of Australia

Temporary Business Visa

Apart from the Migration Program for permanent residents, the government also has a temporary business visa category and this is for people sponsored for skilled occupations by the Australian employers. Australia is going to need migrants, especially skilled migrants, for a long time to come. In Australia there is bipartisan political support for the Migration Program. Australia offers an outstanding quality of life as well as employment opportunities.

Liberal Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews talks in support of immigration:

“The level of net overseas migration is important as net inflows of migrants to Australia reduce the rate of population ageing because migrants are younger on average than the resident population. Just less than 70% of the migrant intake is in the 15 - 44 age cohort, compared to 43% of the Australian population as a whole. Just 10% of the migrant intake are 45 or over, compared with 38% of the Australian population.”

It is also argued that the emphasis on skilled migration means that the country gains a lot more benefit from the incomers. Now, many major works projects which had to be put on hold for want of skilled labor can get going again.

Major Australian Political Parties in Favor High Level of Immigration

According to a 2007 Liberal Party document titled Immigration - Its Role in Our Future, the Coalition’s immigration policy is

“free from discrimination based on race, religion, gender, nationality or country of origin.”

The Australian government is committed to lay more emphasis on skilled migration, at the same time maintaining commitment to family reunion migration.