Treasurer Jim Chalmers pours cold water on jobs quick fix

One proposed answer to Australia’s worker shortage “isn’t a solution for all our problems”, the Treasurer has warned.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says a temporary boost to skilled migration visas isn’t a magic solution to Australia’s economic challenges.

On Monday, Mr Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a jobs summit would be convened for September to find long-term solutions for Australia’s jobs market and economy.

Business leaders have called on the government to include a temporary two-year increase in skilled migration to allow up to 200,000 overseas migrants to come to Australia every year.

The thousands of extra migrants would help plug worker shortages plaguing businesses across the country.

Mr Chalmers said while migration would be an important consideration in the summit, it “shouldn’t be a substitute” for other reforms.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the Albanese government would host a jobs summit in September. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Taylor

“As we emerge from that period of Covid where the migration tap was largely turned off, that should be an opportunity to think about the best mix of migration as the program gathers speed again,” Mr Chalmers told ABC Radio.

“That’s something we’re talking with business about, talking with unions and other community groups about because we’ve got an opportunity to get the migration settings right.

“I would caution people against thinking that migration is the solution to all of our economic challenges.

“It’s part of the story but not the whole story. And it shouldn’t be a substitute for training Australians for roles.”

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar last week called on the Albanese government to raise the migration rate to 200,000 given the labour shortage in the national economy was “the worst it’s been in nearly 50 years”.

He said Australia’s low national unemployment rate – 3.9 per cent – meant there weren’t enough Australians to cover the number of job vacancies around the country.

Businesses across the country are struggling to fill job vacancies. Picture: David Swift

Mr Albanese and Mr Chalmers hope their Bob Hawke-style jobs summit will kickstart wage growth.

It will bring together business, unions and the government to discuss pay deals, productivity and a potential overhaul of enterprise bargaining.

The opposition has yet to reach a cohesive position on the summit, but shadow treasurer Angus Taylor says he wants a seat at the table.

Acting Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the coalition would work “constructively” with the government on important issues.

“But we won’t support talk-fests if they aren’t designed to deliver real solutions,” Ms Ley said.

Mr Chalmers said he was “not sure” the opposition would fit in, given the government is blaming “10 years of inaction” for the need for the summit in the first place.

Mr Chalmers said if the opposition wanted to be consulted, it, as well as independents and crossbenchers, would be included in some capacity.

“One hundred people sounds like a lot of people until you start to work it out,” Mr Chalmers said.

“We will find ways to consult with (independents and crossbenchers) in meaningful ways … We haven't finalised the invitation list yet.

“And when it comes to the opposition, we will consider people who want to be there on their merits.

“We are prepared to genuinely consult with the parliament on some of these issues. They are big issues that go beyond one party or another.”