WA is becoming the place of choice for many business and skilled migrants, who collectively are bringing millions of dollars into the State.
WA is becoming the place of choice for many business and skilled migrants, who collectively are bringing millions of dollars into the State.
In all 6,500 people, around one-fifth of all business and skilled migrants who came to Australia in 1999-2000, chose WA as their destination, second only to NSW.
Skilled workers now account for 69.1 per cent of WA’s migrant intake, comparing favourably to an average skilled intake across Australia of 50 per cent.
It’s not just skilled labourers who are finding WA attractive. Business migration to WA is also attracting strong numbers of individuals and families. Around 23 per cent of migrants to WA fall into this category, compared with 15 per cent nationally.
Settler arrival data for 2000-01 shows the number of business migrants increased from 23 per cent to 28 per cent for WA; 32 per cent in New South Wales; 20 per cent in Victoria; 18 per cent in Queensland; and 1 per cent in South Australia.
In 2001-02, 8168 business migration visas were granted in WA compared with 7364 visas issued in 2000-01 and 6260 visas issued in 1999-2000.
The Small Business Development Commission handles business migrants through the initial transition phase and offers support for new business ventures in the form of the Business Migration Program.
The number of requests for assistance has increased 60 per cent in the 2001-02 financial year, from 1,800 to 3,000.
Earlier this month the SBDC launched a new Business Migration Centre, bringing together the services the government body was already providing into a one-stop shop.
The value of the business migrants and skilled workers is not being lost on the WA Government.
At the launch of the centre, Small Business Minister Clive Brown said it was important to highlight the benefits of living in WA for migrants.
A study by the Federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs into the economic value of business skills migrants found that, within three years, 70 per cent were already operating businesses.
And rather than taking jobs from the locals, the study found migrants provided employment for an average 4.3 employees, while 60 per cent were already exporting within three years, many to their country of origin.
What’s more, each business migrant brings an average $677,000 into WA with them.
Although operating in a tough competitive market, some migration agents are also reaping the rewards.
The Immigration Group, formed this week with the merger of Peter Edwards’ CEC Consultants and Lance Fee’s Immigration Down Under, has grown to possibly the second largest migration agency in WA with seven licensed agents, and rivals Australian Visa and Migration Services.
There are less than 10 companies in WA with more than two consultants operating full-time, The Immigration Group managing director and WA president-elect of the Migration Institute of Australia, Lance Fee said.
Mr Fee believes a couple of factors lie behind the attractive-ness of WA to migrants.
“I think in the last couple of years we have done really well,” Mr Fee said, speaking both of WA and his own company.
“I think it’s probably due to our proximity to Asia and Africa, but also because we have a large number of migrants from the UK, which makes WA attractive for new UK migrants.”
In all 6,500 people, around one-fifth of all business and skilled migrants who came to Australia in 1999-2000, chose WA as their destination, second only to NSW.
Skilled workers now account for 69.1 per cent of WA’s migrant intake, comparing favourably to an average skilled intake across Australia of 50 per cent.
It’s not just skilled labourers who are finding WA attractive. Business migration to WA is also attracting strong numbers of individuals and families. Around 23 per cent of migrants to WA fall into this category, compared with 15 per cent nationally.
Settler arrival data for 2000-01 shows the number of business migrants increased from 23 per cent to 28 per cent for WA; 32 per cent in New South Wales; 20 per cent in Victoria; 18 per cent in Queensland; and 1 per cent in South Australia.
In 2001-02, 8168 business migration visas were granted in WA compared with 7364 visas issued in 2000-01 and 6260 visas issued in 1999-2000.
The Small Business Development Commission handles business migrants through the initial transition phase and offers support for new business ventures in the form of the Business Migration Program.
The number of requests for assistance has increased 60 per cent in the 2001-02 financial year, from 1,800 to 3,000.
Earlier this month the SBDC launched a new Business Migration Centre, bringing together the services the government body was already providing into a one-stop shop.
The value of the business migrants and skilled workers is not being lost on the WA Government.
At the launch of the centre, Small Business Minister Clive Brown said it was important to highlight the benefits of living in WA for migrants.
A study by the Federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs into the economic value of business skills migrants found that, within three years, 70 per cent were already operating businesses.
And rather than taking jobs from the locals, the study found migrants provided employment for an average 4.3 employees, while 60 per cent were already exporting within three years, many to their country of origin.
What’s more, each business migrant brings an average $677,000 into WA with them.
Although operating in a tough competitive market, some migration agents are also reaping the rewards.
The Immigration Group, formed this week with the merger of Peter Edwards’ CEC Consultants and Lance Fee’s Immigration Down Under, has grown to possibly the second largest migration agency in WA with seven licensed agents, and rivals Australian Visa and Migration Services.
There are less than 10 companies in WA with more than two consultants operating full-time, The Immigration Group managing director and WA president-elect of the Migration Institute of Australia, Lance Fee said.
Mr Fee believes a couple of factors lie behind the attractive-ness of WA to migrants.
“I think in the last couple of years we have done really well,” Mr Fee said, speaking both of WA and his own company.
“I think it’s probably due to our proximity to Asia and Africa, but also because we have a large number of migrants from the UK, which makes WA attractive for new UK migrants.”
