Growing momentum for skills recognition reform out of productivity roundtable 

Comments from participants on the first day of the Economic Reform Roundtable show there is growing momentum for overseas skills recognition reform.  

CEO of the Australian Industry Group, Innes Willox, has told the ABC that there is agreement amongst participants that there are qualified migrants in Australia who are doing jobs that are well below their skill level, stating there is a “big problem there” and that “we have to work through that pretty quickly to take advantage of people we have here”. 

Allegra Spender MP, Federal Member for Wentworth, said “we’ve got migrants here who I’ve met. They’ve been brought here because they’re electricians and then they can’t properly use all their skills, or they are qualified nurses, we desperately need them”. 

Minister for Finance, Katy Gallagher, said there was “furious agreement” on the need to reform overseas skills recognition processes. 

Consensus about the urgent need to reform skills recognition must be acted on as a priority, said Violet Roumeliotis AM, CEO of non-profit SSI, which leads the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign.  

“We are delighted that reforms we are pursuing have been discussed at the Economic Reform Roundtable,” Ms Roumeliotis said. 

“These comments show there is broad agreement for making the skills recognition system faster, fairer and more affordable so migrants here in Australia can work in the jobs they were brought to Australia to do. We now need to translate this into action.” 

Right now, there are 620,000 permanent migrants in Australia working below their skill level, despite widespread workforce shortages impeding productivity. This mismatch is dragging down productivity and holding back our economy. 

A key driver of this problem is Australia’s costly system for recognising overseas-acquired skills and qualifications which locks people out of the jobs they’re qualified for through excessive fees, slow and confusing processes, and lack of transparency and accountability.  

In its submission to the Economic Reform Roundtable, the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign is calling for four practical solutions to reform skills recognition and boost national productivity: 

• Establish one national governance system for all overseas skills and qualifications recognition, including an Ombudsman with regulatory power to provide independent oversight and transparency. 

• Create a more joined-up system that links skills recognition for migration purposes with licensing and accreditation for employment purposes.  

• Provide financial support for individuals to remove cost barriers and an online portal with all the information so people know what they need to do.  

• Set up Migrant Employment Pathway Hubs, or career gateways, with skills recognition navigators to get qualified people working in their professions again.