The latest Skills Shortages Report from the Department of Employment states shortages exist “… in the automotive and food trades, where candidate fields are relatively small and there are few applicants who have the required qualifications and experience.” In particular, 26 occupations have been assessed as being in national shortage. Of these 7 are in the managerial and professional levels, while 18 are at the technicians and trades level.

Accountants, Solicitors, Dentists and Pharmacists may have to make way for Cooks, Butchers, Floor Finishers, Roof Tilers and Landscape Gardeners in the Skills Occupation List, if the report on Skills Shortages in Australia is followed. The report has identified occupations in automotive trades and food trades as being ones that employers are “unable to fill or have considerable difficulty filling vacancies for ...at current levels of remuneration and conditions of employment...”

While the report notes that there are often many applicants for vacancies, the applicants are often unable to meet the skill level required. Employers need experienced workers. The report states that regional vacancies often require experienced workers (this is particularly the case in some nursing and health specialisations), and opportunities for new graduates in some locations are restricted due to limited available support and mentoring.

New South Wales is now the tightest labour market, with employers in that state filling a relatively low proportion of their vacancies and attracting few suitable applicants.

Notably, the report has declared there are “no shortages’ for the following occupations Accountants, External Auditor, Solicitor, Valuer, Construction Project, Manager, Architect, Surveyor, Urban and Regional Planner, Quantity Surveyor, Carpenter and Joiner, Painting trades workers, Plumber, Electrician (general), Lift Mechanic, Electronic Equipment/Instrument Trades Worker, Radio Communications Technician, Chemical Engineers, Mechanical Engineer, Civil Engineering Draftsperson, Electrical Engineering Draftspersons, Metal Fabricator, Welder, Fitter, Metal Machinist, Metallurgist, Dentist, Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Radiation Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Podiatrist, Speech Pathologist, Nursing Clinical Director,  all the 6 ACS assessed occupations on the SOL, Secondary School Teacher, Special Needs Teacher, Child Care Centre Manager,

The following information has been received by Migration Alliance this morning:

Hi Liana

Trades Recognition Australia has launched our new website – www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au.  We’ve put together a quick update on the new website, and some recent changes to our skills assessment programs for the information of your members.

What is it?

The SALPT is a tool developed to assist Registered Migration Agents and individual applicants to present their assets and liabilities position properly.  It explains how a client built their wealth and formed their net asset position.  The SALPT has a process made up of two parts to complete the whole package:

Part 1:  Collate the financial information from the client and present it in a more comprehensive way so that it is better accepted by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), with less chance of DIBP questioning the client, and for an increased chance of visa grant.

Australia's Working Holiday Maker visa program grew by close to 16% last year with the grant of over 258,000 visas last year. Minister Scott Morrison is looking to expand the program further saying that the program significantly benefits the economy in general and is of particular importance to the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Impressed with the economic benefits backpackers bring to Australia, DIBP Minister Scott Morrison is looking to expand and improve the working holiday visa programme.

Speaking at the Transport and Tourism Forum in Canberra recently, the Minister said he has noted calls from the tourism sector for improvements in the program.

“I am aware that many in the tourism sector would like to see substantial changes to the program. These will be potential considerations for the government going forward. We also anticipate the program will continue to grow, as will the support it provides to both the tourism sector and those sectors which are crucially interrelated,” said the Minister.