The Australian government has reclassified Perth as a regional employment hardship area in an attempt to offset the acute skills shortage triggered by Western Australia’s burgeoning mining boom.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the reclassification would make it easier for the region’s employers to recruit skilled migrant workers and give temporary workers in Perth an easier transition to permanent residency.
“The simple fact is that there will not be enough Australian workers to get the job done. Where local workers are not available, targeted migration has a vital role to play in easing demand for labour,” said Bowen.
“This will provide employers with another, easier avenue to recruit the skilled workers they need from overseas and give skilled temporary visa holders in Perth a more streamlined pathway to permanent migration,” Bowen announced.
Perth’s addition to the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme will give employers the chance to compete for some of the 16,000 skilled migrant places offered each year under the scheme.
The number of 457 visa holders heading to WA has doubled over the past year. The state received almost 20% of all 457 visa holders, with just 10% of the national population.
Western Australia is predicted to need an additional 150,000 workers by 2017 as infrastructure and resource investments continue to gather pace. The state currently has a record A$380 billion invested in mining.
More Information
- Find out more about the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme at www.workingin-australia.com
- Get help with your Australian visa at www.workingin-visa.com
- Find out more about Western Australia at www.workingin-australia.com