On 3 December 2024, the Australian Government announced significant changes to the skilled migration framework, reflecting the nation’s evolving labour market needs. These reforms include the replacement of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) visa with the new Skills in Demand (SID) (subclass 482) visa from 7 December 2024. This occurred after more than a year of anticipation.
The changes aim to improve migration pathways, improve access to skilled workers, and address Australia’s skill shortages. Here’s everything you need to know about these updates and what they mean for employers and visa applicants.
Skills in Demand Visa Launch
According to the Department of Home Affairs, the Skills in Demand Visa will commence this Saturday, 7 December 2024, supported by the newly released CSOL. However, there is lingering uncertainty about how the changes will be implemented, as the necessary supporting legislation was not passed in Parliament last week.
We expect further clarification later this week and on 7 December, as the changes take effect. In the meantime, you can explore the new Core Skills Occupation List here, and read our summary below to understand its impact on employers and visa applicants.
Introducing the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) consolidates the previously fragmented occupation lists into a single streamlined system.
Highlights:
- 456 occupations are eligible for skilled migration.
- Applies to the Core Skills stream of the SID visa and the Direct Entry stream of the ENS (subclass 186) visa.
- Provides consistent and clear pathways to temporary and permanent migration.
Changes to the Core Skills Occupation List: What It Means for You
With the release of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), several occupations have been added, while others have been removed, impacting pathways for employer-sponsored skilled migration.
Key Implications:
- Occupations no longer on the list will not be eligible for employer sponsored skilled migration under the Core Skills Stream of the Skills in Demand Visa or the Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) of the Subclass 186 Visa.
- For applicants impacted by removed occupations, alternative pathways may still be available. For instance, the Specialist Skills Stream of the Skills in Demand Visa is not expected to require an occupation to be on a list but will require a minimum guaranteed salary of $135,000 (excluding trades workers, machinery operators, drivers, and labourers).
- Newly included occupations on the CSOL present new opportunities for employer sponsorship, allowing individuals to work and live in Australia under this updated framework.
Examples of some of the interesting new occupations added include:
- 225114 Content Creator: Recognising the growing digital economy and demand for social media and online content professionals.
- 451612 Travel Consultant: Supporting Australia’s tourism recovery post-pandemic.
- 421114 Out of School Hours Care Worker: Addressing childcare shortages for working families.
Examples of some of the occupations removed include:
- 141111 Restaurant Manager
- 234113 Forester
- 149212 Customer Service Manager
We will be conducting a detailed review of the new CSOL to identify additional changes impacting migrants and employers.
What Visa Changes Can We Expect on 7 December 2024?
In addition to the anticipated rollout of the new Skills in Demand Visa, which will utilise the newly released Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), the Government is also set to launch the National Innovation Visa this weekend.
The National Innovation Visa is designed to attract top-tier global talent to support Australia’s rapidly growing innovation sectors, such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. This visa aims to position Australia as a global hub for cutting-edge research, technology development, and entrepreneurial ventures.
The Department of Home Affairs advises that further details about these updates will be released soon. If these changes may impact your team or workforce planning, feel free to reach out to us for guidance.
For the official media release and the updated CSOL, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website using the link here.
📧 info@migrationaffairs.com.au
📞 +61 2 8226 8777
Changes to the migration program can occur without notice. The above information is not intended to be legal advice and is correct as of the date of writing this article.
Contact Migrations Affairs to speak with our immigration experts for tailored advice on the circumstances and eligibility.
