Two new visa programs to ease migrant employment in more than 170 jobs across SA

South Australian employers will be able to recruit migrants with greater ease across more than 170 occupations under two new visa programs aimed at dealing with skills shortages.

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South Australian employers will be able to recruit migrants with greater ease across more than 170 occupations – ranging from bakers and bar staff to biochemists and mathematicians – under two new visa programs aimed at dealing with skills shortages.

A new list of occupations that migrants can apply for under two designated area migration agreements – one for Adelaide and one for the entire state – will be released on Monday.

The State and Federal Government deals have come under fire after it was revealed workers could be paid 10 per cent less than the current yearly threshold, or TSMIT, for skilled migrants of $53,900.

But Skills Minister David Pisoni said the regional DAMA is necessary to fill skills shortages around the state.

And South Australia’s Chief Entrepreneur, Jim Whalley, said the Adelaide DAMA is exactly what employers in hi-tech businesses need to attract the global experts essential “to grow, mentor and skill the next generation.”

More than six in ten of the jobs on the statewide list (69 of 111) could attract salaries up to ten per cent less than the TSMIT.

In addition, concessions that allow for lower levels of English, apply to 38 jobs on the regional list – about one in three jobs.

The Adelaide DAMA includes 60 mainly highly skilled jobs in the defence, space, advanced manufacturing and technology industries.

The Adelaide DAMA includes 60 mainly highly skilled jobs in the defence, space, advanced manufacturing and technology industries.

Each of the 60 jobs offer pathways to permanent residency. Mr Pisoni said the DAMAs deliver more flexibility for businesses to deal with immediate skills shortages while they train their local staff to grow their businesses.

“The Regional DAMA will enable employers in industries such as agribusiness, food processing and hospitality and tourism in regional South Australia, to sponsor skilled workers for jobs they have been unable to fill through the existing workforce,” he said. “For example, two-thirds of Australian meat processors, including those in regional South Australia, are running under capacity due to serious local skills shortages.”

But Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas has accused the government of making it more difficult for locals in regional Australia to get a job by allowing skilled migrants to be paid 10 per cent less than the current annual threshold.

“Regional small businesses will be the first to suffer when regional workers have less in their pockets to spend,” Mr Malinauskas said.

Mr Pisoni stressed the DAMAs prohibit wages being paid under the Australian award and must comply fully with the Fair Work Act.

Mr Pisoni said employment numbers are capped in the first year at 750 for the Regional DAMA and 300 for the Adelaide City Deal DAMA.

Restaurant and Catering Industry Association CEO, Juliana Payne, said the regional list was a good start to address the short-term shortage.

Under the regional DAMA, there are 78 occupations including chefs that cover the entire state. A further 36 occupations cater for outer suburban Adelaide and the rest of the state.

Australian Industry Group SA head Stephen Myatt had previously welcomed the two agreements on the back of expected growth in the defence sector, and expansion plans in regional areas such as Whyalla through GFG’s reinvestment in the steelworks.

Occupations for migrants

More metropolitan chemists are needed.

Metropolitan

■ Botanist

■ Digital Artist

■ Mathematician

■ Life Scientist

■ Plastics Technician

■ Naval architect

■ Sheetmetal Traders Worker

■ Zoologist

■ Marine Biologist

■ Fitter

■ Chemist

■ Chief Information Officer

■ Electrical Engineer

■ Environmental Scientist

■ Manufacturer

■ Training and Development Professional

■ Web designer

■ Illustrator

■ Film and Video Editor

■ Laboratory Manager

Regional nurses are in demand.

Regional

■ Enrolled nurse

■ Counsellor

■ Baker

■ Bulldozer Operator

■ Passenger coach driver

■ Hotel or Motel receptionist

■ Gaming Worker

■ Chef

■ Dentist

■ Bar attendant

■ Aged or disabled carer

■ Interpreter

■ Panelbeater

■ Shot firer

■ Youth worker

■ Teacher of the hearing and sight impaired

■ Fishing hand

■ Slaughterer

■ Fruit or nut grower

■ Saw doctor

■ Vegetable grower