Skilled Migrants Have Low Unemployment Rate In Australia

Skilled migrants highly employed: survey

Unemployment among permanent, skilled migrants is just three per cent within 18 months of their arrival in Australia, figures show.

The immigration department’s third longitudinal survey of migrants shows newly arrived skilled migrants have stronger job prospects than the country as a whole.

After a year-and-a-half in Australia, skilled migrants have an employment rate of 97 per cent, according to the statistics released on Thursday by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.

The workforce participation rate was 94 per cent - about 1.5 times the national average.

Migrants on spouse visas had an unemployment rate of five per cent and a workforce participation rate of 72 per cent, the survey of almost 10,000 skilled and family migrants found.

Mr Andrews said the federal government’s skilled migration program was helping to meet demand for labour amid skills shortages in some industries.

Under Labor between 1993 and 1995, skilled primary migrants - excluding family members - had unemployment rates of 25 per cent after 18 months, Mr Andrews said.

‘The Australian government’s emphasis on skilled migration and rigorous selection policies are ensuring migrants are making a contribution to the continued growth of our economy,’ he said in a statement.

‘They need to be young, (have) a command of English and have skills that are recognised in Australia.’

The Age May 17, 2007