The Australian Government announced a new targeted Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) designed to attract skilled migrants who will make a significant contribution to the Australian economy, including in the housing sector.
The new CSOL will fill positions where no Australian workers are available.
It comprises more than 450 occupations, including in the construction, agriculture, cyber security, health, and education sectors.
Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Tony Burke said the government is “determined to tackle the skills shortage, especially in the construction
sector”.
“This is an important step to attract qualified workers to help build more homes.”
The Property Council of Australia welcomed that the Australian Government’s skilled occupation core list will include housing construction trades.
Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said the reworked occupations list, alongside the government’s emphasis on more TAFE training, can help close the genuine skills shortage in the construction industry.
“Over the last twenty years, only two per cent of migrants coming to Australia had visas for construction jobs during a surge of welcome population growth, mega projects and housing need,” Mr Zorbas said.
“Industry urgently requires more workers to plug construction skills gaps and deliver critical infrastructure and housing projects already in the pipeline.
“Streamlining the visa process to attract additional talent and skills needed to build the homes we need is vital.
“We need to become a magnet for global construction talent, and we commend the government for listening to the concerns of the industry and taking these first steps,” he said.
The CSOL is based on labour market analysis and stakeholder consultation undertaken by Jobs and Skills Australia.
It will apply to the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa and the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme.