Australia needs skilled workers

Australia has long relied on skilled worker to fill jobs and support their economy. In the wake of the pandemic the stats are clear – Australia needs skilled workers.

As a result of the Covid pandemic, Australia faces massive labour shortages. The mass exodus of temporary visa holders and closed borders has created skill shortages across the country.

Australia shed nearly 600,000 temporary visa holders in 2020, many of whom were skilled workers.

Australia’s hospitality and tourism industries have continued to express concern about their hiring struggles during the Covid pandemic. Public-facing businesses rely on casual workers, many of whom are temporary visa holders. Without students and backpackers, Australian businesses and economic growth stagnates.

Encouraging skilled workers back to Australia

Australia has locked out international students and backpackers since March 2020 – nearly two years! Fortunately, Australia reopened to some skilled temporary visa holders on 15 December 2021. This included working holiday makers, regional skilled visa holders and students.

See if you qualify for a working holiday visa

It is anticipated that reopening the borders to selected skilled visa holders will fill job vacancies.

Free Australian visas

Australia’s Government has changed its message this week, with Scott Morrison announcing free visas for students and working holiday makers. Moreover, student visa holders can now work more than 20 hours per week.

Starting today, student visa fees will be waived for the next 8 weeks. Working holiday visa fees will also be scrapped for the next 12 weeks. This is a massive investment in Australia’s tourism and skilled labour force; a huge gesture to welcome back migrants. You can learn more about applying for a visa application fee rebate on the Department website.

There are currently 23, 5000 working holiday visa holders who are yet to go to Australia.

Mr Morrison is hopeful this will encourage people to “…join our workforce and help us in our agricultural sector, in our hospitality sector, and so many of the other parts of the economy that rely on that labour”.

It is worth noting that regional work requirements remain for working holiday visa holders.

If you require assistance with an application, you can complete our free online assessment.

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