Recent Parliamentary documents suggests that there remains a concerning trend showing an increasing gap between 457 Visa application lodgements and actual job vacancies and unemployment in Australia.

The trend has had analysts suggesting that employers are seeking the services of overseas workers in place of Australian workers.

Most subclass 457 visa holders originate from the United Kingdom, India, Ireland, the Philippines and the United States of America.

“The subclass 457 program is designed to respond rapidly to temporary economic and employer needs” says the report but adds that it may benefit further from a consistent, planned and measured approach to monitoring and reform. Closer scrutiny of other temporary programs may also be worth consideration by the Parliament.

In July 2013, policy changes and legislative amendments sought to improve the integrity of the program without having an adverse impact on its responsiveness to genuine employer needs. Steps were taken to prioritise the employment and training of local workers, to legislate sponsor obligations, to empower Fair Work Australia to investigate breaches and to strengthen the Department’s ability to prosecute wrongdoing. The report says it is too early to determine the exact consequences of these steps.