Migrant visa boom helps plug skills gap
SA has been calling out for more skilled migrant workers to counter its falling population – and new figures show we’re now getting them in droves.
SA News
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Almost 1000 more migrants have been granted a regional visa to South Australia in the past three months.
New government figures reveal the state, which has been crying out for migrant workers, had the highest number of approvals between July and September nationwide.
More than 1680 people were granted one of two regional sponsored visas, up from 619 during the same period in 2018 — which experts say is due to a processing backlog.
Business SA spokesman Anthony Penney said any increase in skilled migrants to SA was a benefit to business due to skills shortages.
“Until we develop our domestic workforce in terms of training, particularly in the VET sector, we are and need to be dependent on skilled migrants.
“Everything from accountants to architects, bakers, bricklayers and butchers.”
State Skills Minister, David Pisoni, said the increase demonstrated growth and the creation of more jobs.
“Regional SA is benefiting from these increases in regional visas,” Mr Pisoni said.
“This results in an economic boost in the regions as visa holders become productive members of the community as well as spending money on goods and services in the local economy, creating more local jobs.”
The Advertiser understands the State Government will analyse the data to find areas for possible improvement.
The government in March announced it was slashing the migration cap from 190,000 to 160,000. More than a third of the 23,000 places allocated for regional visas were granted in the first quarter of this year.
Federal Immigration Minister David Coleman said the government was working with regions, such as SA, who want more people.
“Governments have always had a strong view about the total number of people who come to Australia through our immigration system,” Mr Coleman said.
“But what we’re doing now is increasing the focus on the distribution of where those people go.”
Migration expert Mark Glazbrook welcomed the increase but said it must deliver the industries and regions the workers they desperately need.
The new figures come ahead of two new visa classes that will replace both the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and Regional Skilled Sponsored visas being introduced in November.
Concerns have been raised about the visa requirements, including three years of post-study work experience, and costs for businesses.