If you’re considering staying in Australia after you graduate, you might be thinking about skilled migration.
Recently, the Australian Government announced some changes to the processing procedure for skilled migration visas. These new rules will see them prioritise applications for the areas and industries considered the most in-demand.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about Australia’s skilled migration priority processing and the most in-demand roles for 2024.
What is skilled migration?
Migrants are people who move from one country to another, usually to find work or complete their studies.
When migrants have professional backgrounds, abilities or knowledge considered valuable by their destination country, they are known as skilled migrants.
Australia’s skilled migration program is designed to grow the country’s economy by bringing people into the country who can fill shortages in in-demand roles.
How is Australia prioritising skilled visa applications in 2024?
To ensure the migration program meets the needs of the country, the Australian Government has introduced some changes to the way they will prioritise skilled visas in 2024.
A key focus for this year will be addressing gaps and shortages outside of the major cities. Under the new directive, employer-sponsored applicants in designated regional areas will be given top priority and have their visas processed ahead of all others.
This applies to regionally-based applicants to the Employer Nomination Scheme, Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme, Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) and Temporary Skills Shortage visas.
Luckily, most areas of Australia are considered regional for migration purposes, including many major cities like Canberra, Adelaide and Perth. Only the three largest capital cities, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, are not classified as regional.
The next priority is given to those in approved teaching or healthcare occupations. This includes school teachers, child care centre managers, medical scientists, counsellors, social workers and more.
Following this, the department will prioritise those nominated by Approved sponsors with Accredited Status, followed by applications that count towards the migration program.
All other applications will then be assessed in the order they were received, based on the lodgement date.
What skilled occupations are in demand in Australia in 2024?
With many industries facing skills shortages across the country, there are plenty of opportunities on the horizon for those looking to launch or continue their career in Australia.
Last year, more than a third of roles were listed as facing a shortage. In particular, workers in professional occupations, like health, information and communication technologies and science, were in demand, as well as technicians and trades workers.
Indeed, the 2023 Skilled Priority List identified many roles facing critical shortages, including aged care workers, child care workers, pathologists, dentists, plumbers, electricians, cybersecurity professionals and mechanical engineers.
While the list has not yet been updated for this year, it is anticipated that many currently listed roles will remain in high demand in the future.
Want to check out the 2024 Skilled Priority List as soon as it’s published? Keep an eye on this page, as we’ll be updating it as new information comes through.
