Recent changes in Australia’s migration policy are set to significantly impact businesses relying on skilled migration to address workforce shortages. The current Temporary Skills Shortage visa (Subclass 482) will soon be replaced by a new ‘Skills in Demand’ visa, aimed at addressing gaps in specific industries.
The new visa is designed to provide “clear” pathways to permanent residency while ensuring that Australia’s skilled migration program meets current labour demands. However, the transition is not without uncertainty.
The rollout of the program is expected in late 2024. Lavan, one of Western Australia’s leading law firms, is closely monitoring developments. With a focus on pragmatic and strategic solutions, the firm’s Migration Law team, led by Associate Amanda Valenti and Partner Bruno Di Girolami (lead Partner of Lavan’s Employment and Safety practice) work closely with businesses to streamline the process of securing skilled overseas workers.
Mr Di Girolami notes, “The key for employers is to ensure that they are proactive, well-informed, and able to take advantage of new opportunities that emerge as the skilled migration system changes.”
The visa will feature two distinct pathways. The Specialist Skills Pathway is designed for highly skilled workers in industries such as technology and green energy and will prioritise applications from those with specialist knowledge not readily available in Australia. While the Core Skills Pathway is for more general workforce needs, catering to industries facing persistent skills shortages.
The occupation lists for the Skills in Demand visa is still under consideration. As WA’s economy relies heavily on skilled migration, many are eagerly awaiting confirmation of the occupation lists, with the hope that shorter processing times will allow employers to quickly fill vacancies in critical industries.
Amanda Valenti notes, “For some businesses, this shift will bring advantages, particularly in terms of shorter processing times, lower costs, greater access to talent and broader worker eligibility.”
“Crucially,” Ms Valenti adds, “the proposed processing time for the Specialist Skills Pathway is just 7–21 days, marking a significant improvement compared to the current wait time of up to 5 months.”
The shift to the Skills in Demand visa offers promising opportunities for businesses in sectors like technology, green energy, and beyond, but it also requires a careful understanding of the new pathways and eligibility criteria. Mr Di Girolami stresses, “Legal obstacles are still prevalent. It’s essential that employers seek detailed advice at the outset to avoid costly delays and complications.”
