Demand for 457 visas dropped sharply in January, but Federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans argues continued migration is essential for Australia’s future.
The numbers of employers applying to be sponsors for 457 visa migrants fell by 23% from December to just 870, the lowest level in two years.
Applications for individual 457 visas fell 21% to a two-and-a-half year low of 4010 in January, new Department of Immigration figures show.
Despite the sharp drop in demand, Evans says the Government is committed to using skilled migration to ensure an appropriate mix of workers to counter an aging population.
“Clearly the demand for labour will reduce, so we’ll see lower migration levels next year both in the permanent and temporary programs. But I want to make it clear – these are, if you like, temporary settings. The longer term commitment to migration will remain,” Evans says.
The Government announced a record migrant intake of 190,300 for 2008-09, of which 133,500 were permanent skilled migrants, but Evans says intake cuts will be made in the next budget.
Last month, Evans called for a more focused migration scheme that acknowledges different levels of demand in a number of industries.
“The overwhelming message is that we need to maintain a skilled migration program, but one that is more targeted,” Evans says.
Council of Small Businesses of Australia chair Bob Stanton agrees, saying the Government would do well to create a more focused migration system.
“With residents losing jobs at the rate they are, I don’t feel that we should have too much focus on skilled migration at all if there are Australians out of work. I think it’s something that needs to be looked at, to see whether it should be continued on the level that it has been in the past.
“I have heard numbers of reports where businesses which want or even need to reduce staff, they can’t because they have skilled migrants who are on a contract, or something similar, so it’s difficult for them.”
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Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
