Experts are waiting to see how the proposed new Skilled Migration List (SOL) will affect Australia’s international education and migration markets when it comes into place on 1 July 2010.
Jobs that have failed to make the list this time include hairdresser, acupuncturist, journalist and cook, while jobs in engineering, nursing, medicine, teaching and accounting feature heavily.
The new list, which is 200 occupations lighter, aims to weed out people who are applying for permanent residency on the back of ‘low-value’ education courses and target migrants with high skills and qualifications to meet the demands of the Australian job market.
Students currently studying in Australia, especially in vocational training and trades, may experience trouble securing permanent residency upon completion of their course despite investing thousands of dollars into their education.
International education agents state that international students are now turning to other countries for their education, or even returning home, as the risk of future policy changes is too high. The changes will not affect international students planning to return home after completing studies in Australia.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has reported a 20 per cent drop in migration rates to Australia resulting from a number of factors, including the proposed changes to the migration program.
‘There’s been quite a large drop in the number of students and that’s starting to be reflected in the net overseas migration figures,’ Immigration Minister Chris Evans told ABC news.
With less than a month to go before the newer shorter SOL is made official, the government is expecting the rates to drop even further.
Senator Evans states that the changes will ensure that the migration program is demand-driven rather than supply-driven and will target areas where there are shortages of highly skilled workers.
‘Through a targeted migration program, the Rudd Government will attract skilled migrants of the highest calibre and deliver people with real skills to meet real need in our economy,’ says Evans.
While international student enrolment at universities continues to grow, it is the private colleges and English language schools that are hurting the most from the migration restrictions.
With a drop in international student commencements the English language sector is bracing itself for a drop in demand, and for some institutions this will signal imminent closure.
The new SOL will be updated on a yearly basis.
Source:http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/education-training/international-student-news/1583/Highly-skilled-students-to-come-out-on-top-of-Skilled-Migration-List-changes
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