Skilled migrants are high paid professionals
Chris Evans
posted Thursday, 18 February 2010
New figures released today show that almost 90 per cent of temporary skilled migrants who were granted Subclass 457 visas in 2009-10 to date are managers and professional workers.
The figures also show that the average total salary package for all new temporary skilled migrant workers is almost $100 000 – an increase of $10 000 on the same time last year.
The highest paid workers on Subclass 457 visas were in the mining industry with an average total remuneration of $169 000, followed by the financial and insurance services sector at $127 600.
Temporary skilled overseas workers in Western Australia were the highest paid with an average total remuneration of $114 800, followed by New South Wales ($101 100), Queensland ($97 900), Victoria ($94 200), Tasmania ($94 100), Northern Territory ($85 500), ACT ($83 600) and South Australia ($81 700).
The summary report of Subclass 457 visas granted in the first seven months of 2009-10 also shows:
- Primary visa grants in January 2010 were 45 per cent lower than January 2009 and six per cent lower than December 2009.
- At the end of January 2010 there were 71 290 Subclass 457 primary visa holders in Australia, which is 13 per cent lower than at the end of January 2009.
- A quarter of all primary visa applications granted have been to citizens of the United Kingdom with 15 per cent to citizens of India and eight per cent to US citizens.
- Registered nurses, doctors and computing professionals are the top occupations for primary visa grants.
- 76 sponsors have been sanctioned for breaching their sponsorship obligations.
The Rudd Government recognises the need for industry to access temporary skilled overseas labour where there are demonstrated skills shortages but is committed to ensuring they are not employed ahead of local workers or used to undermine Australian wages and conditions.
These latest figures show that the Subclass 457 visa program is responding to the changes made by the Rudd Government to protect local jobs.
The Rudd Government’s worker protection laws, which came into effect on 14 September 2009, includes the requirement to pay overseas workers market salary rates, so that Subclass 457 visa holders are on the same wages and conditions of employment as those provided to an Australian worker undertaking equivalent work in the same workplace.
The laws also provide greater protection for more vulnerable Subclass 457 visa holders to ensure they are not exploited. The legislation increased sanctions, including fines, for those who breach their obligations.
In addition, skills assessments for Subclass 457 visa applicants in trade occupations and chefs were progressively introduced from 1 July 2009 to maintain the integrity of the scheme.
The report is available online at: www.immi.gov.au/media/statistics/
Tags: Immigration, Skilled Migration