Positive employment conditions in Australia despite economic uncertainty

18th January 2011
A massive survey of Australian business leaders has shown that local sentiments towards hiring and job growth remain high despite financial uncertainty abroad.

Researchers at recruitment specialists Hudson have interviewed over 4,000 employers across the country in their effort to gain an understanding of the direction of the job market in 2012.

The data gained through their efforts has shown that all sectors have been able to maintain a positive hiring outlook.

While 54 per cent of firms were planning on keeping their internal population consistent over the next 12 months, another 35.9 per cent of respondents indicating that they would be moving to actively increase their permanent workforce within the next three months.

In contrast, those looking to reduce staffing numbers were restricted to the remaining 10.1 per cent of executives surveyed.

The Employment Expectations 2012 report identifies the highest levels of expectation to be in the mining markets at a massive 57.7 per cent of new hiring activity, but says that all sectors covered by the survey yielded positive expectations.

In particular the construction and property sectors are expected to increase hiring, driven largely by increased inter-business spending from the resources industry.

Professional services were also shown to be pursuing an increase in permanent staffing with close on half of respondents planning on installing new personnel within the year.
Speaking on the report's findings, Hudson Asia Pacific's chief financial officer Mark Leigh explained that the "positive uplift in expectations" was due to a spike in demand across a broad range of sectors.

Leigh asserted: "Despite the current international uncertainty, and changing conditions at home, employment expectations in Australia on the whole remain positive, particularly in the resources, transport and construction and engineering sectors.

"Furthermore, we expect high demand in certain roles, such as engineering, geology, HSE and operational roles as well as for customer facing IT specialists."

As these markets begin to expand and local talent pools are targeted for experienced workers, savvy managers may begin to investigate the possibilities available through skilled international employees.

Registered migration agents will be able to assist in delivering a range of services to these firms that can help to ensure that an application for sponsorship is accepted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

While there are a number of legal conditions that need to be met before this kind of hire can be entered into, migration consultants will be able  to advise managers of their chances of success before a decision is made - saving an organisation both time and money in the long term.

New Visa Pricing Arrangements

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is introducing new visa pricing arrangements. 
Some changes, including a reduction in the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for new students, take effect from January 2012. Other changes will be progressively introduced over the next 18 months, subject to normal legislative processes. 

Why are visa pricing arrangements changing?
A review of Australia’s current visa pricing system found scope to target anomalies and inconsistencies, close the gap between visa access charges and the estimated costs of administering visas, and improve the integrity of the visa system. 
The move to a per person visa application charge structure is in line with comparable countries. The user-pays approach realises the value of visa access while safeguarding Australia’s international competitiveness. It provides greater fairness and flexibility to respond to changing circumstances.

Which visa classes will change in January 2012?
The VAC for student visas will decrease by five per cent from 1 January 2012.
The VAC for a small number of visa classes will be increased between five to fifteen per cent.

What other changes are proposed?
Some anticipated changes include charges for:

• applicants who include additional family members
• longer duration visas
• paper applications where an online option is available
• optional services, such as visa labels, which are not required by Australia.
  

• Refugee and humanitarian visa applicants
• Citizenship applicants
• Postgraduate research students
• Australian sponsoring businesses.
  

How do I get more information?
For further information about the program, please contact the Department.

Source: https://www.mara.gov.au

GSM Priority 5 Processing Update

DIAC has announced that it expects to commence allocating some General Skilled Migration (GSM) Priority Group 5 applications this program year (2011-12).
This group comprises approximately 27 347 onshore applications, and 15 284 offshore applications.
About 1000 priority cases are given to case officers each week.
As of 18 November 2011 there were approximately 751 onshore applications and 5544 offshore applications in Priority Group 4 awaiting allocation.

DIAC has given the following advice on how processing of Group 5 will occur:
Processing of Priority Group 5 applications lodged in Australia will begin with the remaining applications in the visa subclasses in effect prior to September 2007, the oldest of which was lodged on 28 July 2005. There are approximately 756 cases in this group.
Processing of Priority Group 5 applications lodged outside Australia will begin with applications in visa subclasses 495 and 496, which were lodged prior to 1 September 2007, the oldest of which was lodged on 10 July 2006. Unlike other GSM visa applications lodged from outside Australia, prior to 1 September 2007, these applications were not affected by the Minister's Cap and Cease arrangements. There are approximately 594 cases in this group.
The number of Priority Group 5 applications processed this program year will ultimately depend on the number of higher priority applications received, and other factors including any change in the size of the Migration Program or variation of the Processing Direction. Many Priority Group 5 applicants still face a considerable wait until their application is allocated to a case officer for processing and may want to consider other options available.

Source: http://mia.org.au/

Targeted migration increase "an important step" in meeting WA demand

17 November 2011 05:23
Increasing targeted migration is "an important step" in meeting the needs of Western Australia's booming resources sector, according to one executive.
Speaking after the publication of new migration statistics from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), Reg Howard-Smith - the chief executive of the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy - asserted to Fairfax Media that some areas of Perth alone are facing double-digit unemployment.
Roles that are in particularly high demand include engineers, skilled trades people and metallurgists, he asserted, adding that recent CME figures from the State Growth Outlook anticipate an additional 33,000 workers will be needed in the WA resources sector over the next few years.
"Where local workers are not available, targeted migration has a vital role to play in easing demand for labour," Howard-Smith asserted. He added: "As the resources sector gets busier, there are significant flow-on effects to other sectors across WA and it is important for all employers to be able to source labour in a timely manner.
Howard-Smith made his remarks following the publication of new DIAC figures, which indicated the total number of skilled migrants moving to WA in the 2010-11 financial year fell by ten per cent - and the number of new permanent residents from overseas in WA also dropped by 1,300.
Migrants, it is suggested, favour Australia's east coast cities and towns, primarily in NSW and Victoria, in spite of the fact the labour market is much tighter in cities like Sydney and Melbourne. According to Bob Birrell, population expert at Monash University, the settlement pattern of permanent residents will continue to favour Australia's east coast until more is done to support other locations. He said: "There's no priority given to locations where there's a stronger case for allowing employers to sponsor migrants.
"[The government] has put more emphasis on employer sponsorship, but any employer, no matter where they are in the country, can sponsor a migrant."
MA members also benefit from our ongoing lobbying efforts on behalf of the profession and our close relationship with the DIAC as we work together to create positive outcomes for the industry.
Source; http://www.migrationalliance.com.au/

More Brits look for properties in New Zealand and Australia

Thursday 3rd November 2011
Economic woes, rising unemployment and continued business uncertainty seem to have had a major impact on many Brits. In the last quarter the Overseas Guides Company saw an increase in requests for Australia up by a staggering 160%. However, it was New Zealand that caught everyone’s attention with a staggering 735% increase on the previous quarter.
Richard Way, editor of the Overseas Guides Company, said:“It’s not surprising the numbers of people requesting copies of our free guides about buying property in Australia and New Zealand, as well as emigrating, has soared - the hikes have been substantial, particularly in recent months.
“With the UK and most of the euro zone teetering on the edge of another recession and employment opportunities depressingly low, younger Brits are understandably being attracted by opportunities of a new life down under. Parts of Australia in particular have a skills shortage, which means for certain professionals, getting visas to live and work there is now a relatively straightforward process with the aid of a reputable migration agent.”
UK unemployment rose by 114,000 in the last quarter to August this year. This puts the jobless total at a 17-year high, standing at some 2.57 million currently out of work. This is undoubtedly as a result of the impact of the international financial crisis and one of the main reasons for the interest in pastures new.
Sammy Naghi, a registered migration agent at London based Taylor Hampton Solicitors said: “I can confirm that our www.emigrate-to-australia.co.uk department has seen a huge increase in enquires over the past 12 months.
“The typical family we assist obtain a permanent general skilled migration visa and are generally under 45 years of age, with qualifications and a good level of English ability. The types of occupations include - but are not limited to - engineers, health professionals, teachers, accountants, computing professionals, and various trades’ people.
“The most popular area by far is Western Australia (Perth) due to all the mining and construction work which has meant there is massive need for skilled migrants. English skilled workers are a great fit due to their transferrable skills and qualifications, and as a consequence are highly desirable by many Australian employers across a wide range of industries.”

Australian economy is growing and its good news for migrants

The Australian economy grew at its fastest pace in four years last quarter, outpacing much of the developed world’s economies.
That’s great news for anyone thinking of emigrating to Australia from the UK.
 Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 1.2% in the three months to the end of June from the previous quarter, said the Bureau for Statistics. That compares with a contraction of 0.9% in the first three months of the year.
Analysts said demand for resources should help Australia’s economy continue to grow. ”The expectation is for this improvement trend to continue,” said Peter Esho of City Index in Sydney.
Mike Jakeman from The Economist Intelligence Unit said “The latest data will be reasonably encouraging for the government, in the light of the substantial flood-induced fall in the first quarter. The economy has shown that it has the strength to bounce back from a severe shock. There shouldn’t be too much concern about the fact that net exports remained a drag on growth, as this is owing to the clean up from the floods taking longer than expected. In Australian dollar terms we don’t expect to see much growth in exports for 2011 as a whole, but beyond that, the outlook for Australian commodity exports remains very positive. “
“The government will be most heartened by the resilience of the household sector. For much of this year the media has described highly indebted consumers as very pessimistic about their financial positions, especially in the light of the forthcoming carbon tax. But household spending on discretionary goods, such as clothes and shoes, and services, such as eating out, was very healthy in the second quarter.
Source: http://www.australiamagazine.co.uk

Why consider Australia now?
Changes to laws coming

Australian Government proposing SkillSelect, a new skilled migrant selection register based on Expression of Interest (EOI)

• Commences on 1 July 2012
• Applicants submit claims for EOI and subsequently may be invited to apply for a visa application
• Applicants cannot apply for a visa application without an invitation
• SkillSelect will match the number of applicants with the number places and address regional skilled shortages

New accreditation scheme for 457 visas

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced businesses using the subclass 457 visa program can now gain access to priority processing and approval for six years under a new accreditation scheme.

'This new scheme recognises that many Australian businesses have a long history of dealing with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and an excellent record of compliance with workplace and migration laws,' Mr Bowen said.
'From 7 November, these businesses will be able to seek accreditation that qualifies them for sponsorship approval of six years rather than the current three, as well as ensuring faster processing times for all future subclass 457 nominations and visa applications.' Businesses will need to meet certain additional benchmarks to qualify for accredited status, including being an active 457 visa sponsor for the past three years and a commitment to ensuring at least 75 per cent of their domestic workforce is Australian. 'While employers should first look to Australians to fill skill vacancies, the subclass 457 visa provides a fast and flexible process for the entry of overseas workers where they are needed to fill skill vacancies,' Mr Bowen said.
'The new accreditation scheme was developed in consultation with the Skilled Migration Consultative Panel, which includes representatives from major employer groups, unions and state governments.'
The 2011 KPMG Skilled Migration Survey of employers found that the subclass 457 visa program provided a flexible avenue to alleviate skill shortages in growth sectors such as the mining industry.
Use of the subclass 457 visa program is increasing, with 54 360 subclass 457 primary visas granted in 2010–11, an increase of 38.2 per cent compared to the same period the year before. The UK was the most popular source country, with 11 820 primary applicants granted visas.
The median processing time for a subclass 457 visa remains at a historically low level of 22 days.

Students to benefit as Knight Review Changes rolled out

The first stage of a suite of measures supporting Australia's international education sector is being rolled out as part of the Government's response to the Knight Review, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, said.

Mr Bowen said as part of the first tranche of changes, the financial requirements for certain student visa applicants had now been reduced, meaning students will need up to $36 000 less in the bank when applying for a visa. 'The change that came in this week recognises that the financial requirements for student visas were often too onerous, and discouraged applicants from choosing Australia as their preferred study destination,' Mr Bowen said. 'Applicants for the vocational education and training and private education sectors in particular will benefit from this change. ‘English language students will benefit from another change that is now in place, allowing students to apply for a visa without first meeting minimum English skills requirements. Among the other changes implemented is the introduction of a new 'genuine temporary entrant' requirement for all student visa applicants. This requirement enables the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to better assess student visa applications to ensure the applicant's main aim is a temporary stay in Australia. 'We want to avoid the situation where student visa holders are desperate to stay in Australia to work to pay off large study debts amassed at home,' Mr Bowen said. 'While international students may aspire to remain in Australia, if they cannot achieve permanent residency or long-term employee sponsorship, they need to return to their home countries.'
Other changes that are now in place include:

• Extending the time new PhD students can stay in Australia while their thesis is being marked;
• Discontinuing pre-visa assessment (PVA) policy to help speed up visa processing; and
• Allowing prepaid homestay fees to be included in the financial requirements assessment for a student visa.

The Education Visa Consultative Committee (EVCC) has now also been established and met for the first time in Canberra on 26 October 2011. The; focus of the EVCC is to improve the information flow between the Australian Government and the international education sector.

New migration measures crucial to mining boom success

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP,  announced new measures to assist Perth businesses attract the workers they need and alleviate skills shortages in the resources sector.

In an address to the Migration Conference of the Australian Minerals and Metals Association (AMMA), Mr Bowen said a record $380 billion in mining investment—nearly four times the average level for the past 30 years—was projected to lead to a shortage of 36 000 tradespeople by 2015. 'The simple fact is that there will not be enough Australian workers to get the job done,' Mr Bowen said.
'Skills shortages are not limited to mining projects, with opportunities for Australians in the resources sector leading to local skills shortages in other parts of Western Australia, particularly in Perth. 'Therefore, for the purpose of greater access to skilled migration, Perth will now be considered a regional city and will be able to benefit from inclusion in the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.
'This will provide employers with another, easier avenue to recruit the skilled workers they need from overseas and give skilled temporary visa holders in Perth a more streamlined pathway to permanent migration.'
For the first time ever, the government has specifically allocated 16 000 places for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme in the recent Budget. This complements the government’s record investment in skills training for domestic workers announced in the Budget. The government's skilled migration programs are already significantly benefiting Western Australian business, with new statistics out today showing the number of temporary skilled 457 visa holders going to this state has more than doubled over the last year. 'WA receives almost 20 per cent of all 457 visa holders—or 9000 primary visa holders—despite only having 10 per cent of the Australian population,' Mr Bowen said. 'With 457 visa processing times 30 per cent faster than five years ago, the government is quickly delivering skilled workers to where they are most needed. 'Skilled migration supports Australian businesses, our valuable resources sector, and the economy more broadly.'

Australian's life expectancy among the highest in the world

Australian life expectancy for both males and females continues to be amongst the highest in the world, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

A boy born today can expect to live an average of 79.5 years, while a girl can expect to live to 84.0 years. Having survived to age 60, men could expect to live another 23 years and women another 26 years.
Since 1990, life expectancy has increased by 6 years for men and just under 4 years for women, reflecting the decrease in death rates over time. The increase in life expectancy is one of the factors contributing to the ageing of Australia's population.
Death rates have continued to decline over the past 20 years. In 2010, the standardised death rate was the lowest on record at 5.7 deaths per 1000 people. In 1990, the standardised death rate was 8.6 deaths per 1000 people.
The infant mortality rate decreased slightly, from 4.3 deaths per 1,000 births in 2009 to 4.1 in 2010.
There were nearly 143,500 deaths registered in 2010 (73,500 men and 70,000 women).
In 2010, death rates were lowest in the major cities (5.7 deaths per 1,000 standard population) and highest in very remote areas (8.1 deaths per 1,000 standard population).