Help for WA immigration
In a speech to the Migration Conference of the Australian Minerals and Metals Association Chris Bowen has announced that Perth will now be considered a regional city and will therefore be able to benefit from inclusion in the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.
The announcement comes against predictions of skilled labour shortages that will hamper Western Australia’s booming economy. Mr Bowen stated that a record $380 billion in mining investment—nearly four times the average level for the past 30 years—was projected to lead to a shortage of 36 000 tradespeople by 2015.
The simple fact is that there will not be enough Australian workers to get the job done, Mr Bowen said. Adding Skills shortages are not limited to mining projects, with opportunities for Australians in the resources sector leading to local skills shortages in other parts of Western Australia, particularly in Perth.
According to Bowen the announcement will provide employers with another, easier avenue to recruit the skilled workers they need from overseas and give skilled temporary visa holders in Perth a more streamlined pathway to permanent migration.
The government allocated 16,000 places for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme in the recent Budget. Bowen added WA receives almost 20 per cent of all 457 visa holders—or 9000 primary visa holders—despite only having 10 per cent of the Australian population,
At the Opportunities Expo emigration show in London last weekend the Western Australian Governments stand had the longest queue of potential migrants looking to move from the UK. Exhibitors included a range of mining and engineering companys looking for skilled migrants.
Similar Posts:
- Western Australia Immigration Officials in UK
- Australian Immigration Changes
- WA economy shows strong growth
- Australia & New Zealand Top Immigration Destinations
- Europcar launches Privilege loyalty scheme
