Coupling new migration list with onshore skills recognition reforms would unlock 620,000 skilled Australians already here

The Federal Government’s skilled migration reforms, announced yesterday, will not fully ease skills shortages without change to the wider system keeping thousands of migrants already in the country from full economic participation, according to an advocacy coalition.

Activate Australia’s Skills has welcomed the Federal Government’s new targeted Core Skills Occupation List as a step in the right direction but urges the government to expand this reform to the overseas skills recognition system, which currently prevents more than 620,000 migrants already living and working in Australia from addressing chronic skills shortages.

“There is a clear synergy in these reforms. Almost half of permanent migrants in Australia work below their skill level, with 60% arriving through the skilled migration stream. Getting the skills list right is important, but to fully harness these skills we need to make sure overseas-trained workers can work in their trained professions onshore,” said Activate Australia’s Skills Campaign Director Dane Moores. 

“Our external migration program has an important role to play in addressing skills shortages. But it’s not an either-or situation. We should both optimise our migration program, while also complementing these reforms with changes so migrants already in the country can fully use their skills and work in their professions.”

Mr Moores said the benefits would be particularly apparent in industries with acute workforce shortages, such as healthcare, construction, and technology.

“The current system fails to translate the intent of our skilled migration program into labour market outcomes because of the inefficient, costly and frankly sometimes absurd bureaucratic hoops required to get overseas skills and expertise recognised.  

“These skills can be readily activated by simply reforming the skills recognition system. If we look at the various drivers at play in Australia’s skills shortages, this is really the low hanging fruit that could have a transformative impact.

The Activate Australia’s Skills campaign consists of over 85 organisations calling on the federal government to implement key skills recognition reforms:

• 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 seamless process with greater national consistency and reduced red tape.
• 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 with skills recognition navigators to get
  qualified people working in their professions again.