Skilled Stream

The latest DIBP – Report on Migration program 2016-2017 has recently been released.

Within the managed migration program the breakdown was:

  • 123,567 places were delivered in the Skill stream;
  • 56,220 places were delivered in the Family stream; and
  • 421 places were delivered in the Special Eligibility stream.

The Skill stream accounted for 67.3 per cent of the total 2016–17 migration program outcome.

At the major group level of the Australia New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), the top three major occupation groups for primary visa grants in the Skill stream were Professionals (63.9 per cent), Technicians and Trades Workers (17.1 per cent) and Managers (10.4 per cent).

Within the Skill stream:

  • the Employer Sponsored category had an outcome of 48,250 places. It comprised 39.0 per cent of the Skill stream outcome, with 38,052 places (78.9 per cent) granted under the Employer Nomination Scheme and 10,198 places (21.1 per cent) granted under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme;
  • General Skilled Migration (GSM) had an outcome of 67,857 places. GSM comprised 54.9 per cent of the Skill stream outcome;
  • the Business Innovation and Investment Programme had an outcome of 7260 places; and
  • the Distinguished Talent category had an outcome of 200 places.
  • State-Specific and Regional Migration (SSRM) had an outcome of 36,494 (29.5 per cent of the total Skill stream outcome). These visas are included in the various Skill stream categories discussed above.

States and territories

The states/territories that attracted the largest number of migrants were:

  • New South Wales with an outcome of 61,470 (33.5 per cent);
  • Victoria with 47,549 (25.9 per cent);
  • Queensland with 21,519 (11.7 per cent), and
  • Western Australia with 18,908 (10.3 per cent).

Skill stream in detail

Australian industry benefited with the majority of the permanent migration visas (123,567 places) being granted to the Skill stream which equates to 67.3 per cent of the total permanent migration programme. This outcome comprised 44.3 per cent of places to clients outside Australia (54,698 places) and 55.7 per cent of places to clients in Australia (68,869 places).

Demand for places in the Skill stream has increased by 14.4 per cent in the 2016–17 programme year compared to 2015–16. There were 165,126 first stage applications received in the Skill stream in 2016–17 compared to 144,319 in 2015–16. As at 30 June 2017, 101,197 clients (first stage) remain in the pipeline, an increase of 32.7 per cent compared to the pipeline as at 30 June 2016.

If you would like to read the entire report please go to:

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/report-on-migration-program-2016-17.pdf

If you need further advice or assistance with your visa application please do not hesitate to contact us.