Foreign workers 'not taking jobs' from Aussies

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Created on Monday, 13 August 2012 10:01

Written by Editorial staff

A new study exploring the impact of temporary skilled migrants on the local labour force in Australia's booming resources communities has revealed that foreign workers are not taking jobs away from Australians.

In fact, according to researchers at the School of Management at Edith Cowan University in Perth, some of the skills that workers with 457 visas bring to the table would be impossible to attain locally.

Dr Susanne Bahn, who led the research, explained that one good example of this is helicopter engineers who work to maintain some of the major equipment used in oil and gas projects.

Licensing for certain helicopter engineering skills is only granted in France and the United Kingdom, which is why it makes sense that this type of labour should come from overseas.

"Due to the lack of specialised skilled workers in Australia, these companies are using their global workforce and employing them where and when they are needed," said Dr Bahn.

Migration agents may be asked to work directly with these companies and support them in their 457 visa nominations and applications. And with the new SkillSelect program and the scope for further EMAs to be granted in the coming months, it's likely that Australia will see even more 457 migrant workers in the coming years.

Dr Bahn added: "This is the first study of its kind in Australia and shows that although the resources industry often seeks to employ Australian workers, some of the skills required are so specialised and only taught in one or two institutions globally, that the skill set required is simply not available."

Interestingly, Dr Bahn's research - which was carried out in partnership with the Australian Mines and Metals Association - also highlighted that while jobs are often made available to Australian workers from elsewhere in the country, many are reluctant to move away from the east coast.

Reasons for their reluctance, she explained, included worries about the high cost of living, as well as family or social commitments. Lack of infrastructure was also identified as a possible barrier to relocating home-grown talent from the east coast to WA or mining communities in more remote areas.

The preliminary findings from the study were announced yesterday (August 9) and  a full report of the research - titled 457 Visa Workers in the WA Resource Industry: The benefits and costs for business, migrant families and the community - will be published by the end of the year.