Immigration in a time of domestic skilled shortages: Skilled movements in 2003–04
Bob Birrell, Virginia Rapson and T. Fred Smith, Centre for Population and Urban Research, Monash University, for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, June 2005
This report examines the international movement of skilled workers to and from Australia, with particular reference to the latest data available for the year 2003–04.
Skilled workers are defined as those who fit in the following occupational categories: managers, professionals, associate professionals and tradespersons. The occupation information is derived from the passenger cards that are filled out by all persons arriving in or departing from Australia. The report examines the movements of persons holding these occupations in the light of the mounting concerns about skilled-labour shortages in Australia in the early months of 2005. Shortages have become evident across many of the traditional metalworking, electrical, construction and automotive trades, as well as some professional occupations, particularly those in the health fields of medicine, nursing and pharmacy, but also in engineering and accounting.
This study updates previous research in this area by the authors. It illustrates the role of immigration in supplying an increasing proportion of Australia's skilled workers.