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Gov adds chefs, engineers to priority migration list

The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke MP has today announced the inclusion of a range of skilled occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL).

The PMSOL, first announced in September 2020, is developed in conjunction with the National Skills Commission to ensure a small number of critical occupations are filled to continue to create Australian jobs and aid in Australia’s ongoing recovery from the impact of COVID-19.

The addition of 22 occupations brings the PMSOL to 41 in total.

Minister Hawke said the Government engaged with small, medium and large Australian employers, business leaders, and industry bodies across the economy to determine these changes.

“Government has received valuable feedback from Australian business stakeholders on critical skill vacancies, which has been considered together with data from the National Skills Commission, in order to develop today’s update to the Priority Migration Skilled Migration List,” Minister Hawke said.

The 22 new occupations are (including ANZSCO codes):

  • Accountant (General) (221111)
  • Accountant (Taxation) (221113)
  • Accountant (Management) (221112)
  • External Auditor (221213)
  • Internal Auditor (221214)
  • Electrical Engineer (233311)
  • Civil Engineer (233211)
  • Structural Engineer (233214)
  • Geotechnical Engineer (233212)
  • Transport Engineer (233215)
  • Mining Engineer (233611)
  • Petroleum Engineer (233612)
  • Surveyor (232212)
  • Cartographer (232213)
  • Other Spatial Scientist (232214)
  • Medical Laboratory Scientist (234611)
  • Orthotist / Prosthetist (251912)
  • Multimedia Specialist (261211)
  • Analyst Programmer (261311)
  • Software and Applications Programmers (261399)
  • ICT Security Specialist (262112)
  • Chef (351311)

Visa holders, who have been sponsored by an Australia business in a PMSOL occupation will be subject to quarantine arrangements at their own expense.

Existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, but priority will be given to those in occupations on the PMSOL.

AREEA response

AREEA’s members across Australia’s resources and energy industry will firmly welcome today’s additions to the PMSOL.

On behalf, and in collaboration, with various members, AREEA has been providing significant levels of evidence to the Australian Government and advocating for the urgent need to expand the list of occupations on this priority skilled migration list.

In particular chefs, mining, petroleum and geotechnical engineers, are skill areas where AREEA members are in critical shortage. Others – such as seafarers, masters and some drilling occupations – remain priorities to be added to the list.

AREEA Chief Executive, Steve Knott AM, said the resources and energy industry had “been firing on all cylinders” throughout the pandemic, but closed borders has wreaked havoc on its pool of skilled labour.

“AREEA’s members across the industry have been reporting worsening skills shortages that threaten to cripple the national recovery from the pandemic’s crushing economic impacts. Significant data and evidence has been provided to government at all levels about these serious skills issues for well over a year.

“We congratulate the Morrison Government for today acting on the urgent advice of industry and broadening the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) to include an additional 22 occupations all of which have clear evidence on their importance to supporting the Australian economy.

“Today’s announcement also puts into effect key findings of the interim report of the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Skilled Migration Program, which has been hearing evidence from government, industry and unions for several months.”

For more information and/or support, contact [email protected] 

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