10,000 Skilled Migration Places are secured by Western Australia to Tackle Labour Shortages and Boost Economy!

10,000 Skilled Migration Places are secured by Western Australia to Tackle Labour Shortages and Boost Economy!

July 1, 2024 by immigrationhotspot in Australia Immigration News, Australian Migration Strategy & Policy, Skilled Migration News

In a significant move to address labour shortages and stimulate economic growth, the Cook and Albanese Labor Governments have signed an agreement to allocate 10,000 skilled migration places for the 2024-25 period. This initiative aims to bolster the State’s economy and the residential construction industries.

Key Highlights of the Agreement

• 10,000 Skilled Migration Places: The migration places will be divided between the State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) and a newly established WA Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).
• State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP): Expanded from the previous allocation of 2,350 places to 5,000 places, the SNMP allows the State Government to set its own priorities for skilled migration, helping small and medium-sized businesses that struggle with the Commonwealth Government’s employer-sponsored visa requirements.
• WA Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA): The new WA DAMA will provide an additional 5,000 migration places, split equally between metropolitan and regional employers. This agreement will enable employers to attract and retain skilled workers in key sectors like construction, healthcare, tourism, hospitality, and agriculture.

Addressing Critical Skills Shortages

The State is facing critical skills shortages, particularly in the construction and healthcare sectors. The new agreement aims to fill these gaps by attracting skilled migrants. The WA DAMA will also offer a broader list of occupations and a shorter pathway to permanent residency, encouraging skilled migrants to settle in regional areas.

Complementary State Government Initiatives

The State Government is actively investing in initiatives to address local skills needs. These include offering free and low-fee TAFE courses to train Western Australians for local jobs. This dual approach of training local workers and attracting skilled migrants is designed to sustain and diversify the State’s economy.

Official Statements

Premier Roger Cook emphasized the importance of skilled migration to maintain economic strength and expedite home building:

Western Australia is the economic powerhouse of Australia and that makes our State an attractive place to live, work, and play. We are committed to continuing to create quality local jobs for local people, but to keep our economy strong and build homes, we need to bring in skilled workers. This agreement with the Commonwealth sends a signal to overseas markets that WA is open for business

Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk highlighted the efforts to secure the skilled migration places:

Securing places for 10,000 skilled workers will help us fill the many positions that can’t be filled locally. Skilled migrants are needed to meet immediate labour shortages. Training local workers will always be the priority, and we are doing this in record numbers through initiatives like fee-free TAFE, but additional migration places will make a huge difference to our ability to sustain and diversify WA’s economy.

Conclusion

This landmark agreement between the Cook and Albanese Governments is a strategic step towards addressing labour shortages and boosting economic growth in Western Australia. By expanding skilled migration places and supporting local workforce initiatives, the State aims to ensure a robust and resilient economy capable of meeting future demands.

Source

Government of Western Australia