It is now clear that the Australian government still intends to introduce changes to the migration program before the election in 2025 and possibly as early as the end of November 2024. What is not at all clear is exactly what these changes will mean for employers.
Join our webinar on 24 October 2024, where we will discuss what is known, what is not known and how to best prepare. A link for registration can be found here.
In summary:
Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)
On 6 December 2024, the Occupation Standard Classification of Australia (OSCA) will be released replacing the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). This is meant to shift the emphasis of occupation classification away from job hierarchies and lists of tasks to more of a focus on skills and competencies.
Skills in Demand Visa:
The release of the new Classifications list (OSCA) will provide the framework for the new Skills in Demand Visa which is being refined and is expected to be released in late November 2024. As a recap the new Skills in Demand Visa will replace the existing Temporary Skill Shortage visa (TSS) (subclass 482) providing 3 streams:
Specialist Skills Pathway: For high-income earners, with applications processed within 7 days.
Core Skills Pathway: For workers earning above $73,150 in eligible occupations.
Essential Skills Pathway: A regulated pathway for lower-income essential workers, designed to meet critical shortages. These visas provide clear pathways to permanent residency, giving employers greater certainty when planning their workforce needs.
The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
The new Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) will be a single consolidated list which will be used to determine eligibility for the new Skills in Demand Visa. It will be developed and managed by Jobs and Skills Australia which provides recommendations to the Minister for Immigration. The new CSOL is yet to be released but in the meantime, Jobs and Skills Australia has released its preliminary Occupation Shortage List (OSL) which provides a point-in-time assessment of the shortage status of occupations in the Australian labour market.
An online tool is now available Occupation Shortage List | Jobs and Skills Australia which identifies whether occupations are in shortage and whether the shortage is national or confined to metropolitan areas or regional areas.
This list is NOT the final CSOL, but provides employers good insight into those occupations that may not be able to be sponsored under the new visa. This will be the basis of some discussion in the webinar.
Upcoming changes and uncertainty
Businesses may consider lodging TSS renewals and PR applications as soon as possible as the Government has flagged changes to the migration program coming into effect late November 2024. Whilst we do not yet know the extent of the changes and how employees will be affected, we are receiving many queries from anxious employees, and businesses may wish to look at transitioning TSS visa holders to PR before these changes come in.
How Ajuria Lawyers Can Help
Our team is here to assist businesses in understanding how these changes impact recruitment and workforce planning. For skilled migrants, we can provide tailored advice on visa applications, eligibility, and long-term residency pathways.
Stay informed and ahead of the changes—contact us today to explore how we can support your migration and employment needs in light of the new OSCA release.
