Thursday, September 23, 2010

Recognised (Engineering) Graduates


The Skilled (Recognised Graduate) Visa is available to graduates who:

(a) completed a course in the period of 24 months ending immediately before the day on which the application is made; and

(b) at an institution specified by the Minister...for the award of a degree or higher qualification in a discipline specified.

From 30 October 2010 there will be 104 specified institutions, but the only discipline specified to date is engineering....so this is good news for (some) overseas engineering graduates.

The full list is in the legislative instrument which you can view by clicking here.

Creative commons attribution for the photograph.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Migration - Economic Outcomes

On 30 August 2010, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) published another in its series of Perspectives on Migration entitled "Economic Outcomes of Skilled Program Migrants".

The report (click here for full version) finds that the unemployment rate for skilled migrants is 30% higher then the national average. This is an interesting finding as this program is often promoted as a solution to the skills shortage. Apparently it's not. The report also explores some of the reasons for this outcome.

It's also no wonder when faced with research like this that government policy is clearly focused on the employer sponsored visa classes. The migrants under that program have 100% employment.

There was also an article about this ABS report in The Sydney Morning Herald on 1 September 2010.

Creative commons acknowledgment for photograph.