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.

Election 2010

On the eve of the 2010 Australian federal election (it's on tomorrow - Saturday 21 August 2010), the Migration Institute of Australia did a Q&A of the major parties and their policies on various aspects of migration:

1. the questions
2. the response from the Australian Labour Party - click here
3. the response from the Liberal - National Coalition - click here
4. the response from the Greens - click here

...just as I feared - not much choice really.

Creative commons attribution for the photograph

MIA Media Release - 26 July 2010

A Better Migration Program is Not Built on Empty Promises and Hollow Threats

As politicians sharpen their focus on refugees in boats and arbitrary caps and targets designed for short term political gain, Australia’s migration program remains unbalanced, mismanaged and confusing for current and potential migrants and sponsors and for the general public.

The true migration issues that need to be dealt with are click to read in full