Australia Is In Need of More Skilled Migrants
Australia is among the countries that are expressing their need for more skilled migrants to live and work in their country permanently. Immigration is the answer to the country’s labour force demands. In order to meet this great demand, Australia uses various programs to attract even the low-skilled employees to fill their job shortages.
Based on the ageing population and the predicted growth of Australia’s economy, it is estimated that they will need more than 220,000 migrants each year starting 2021. Demographers and economists warn the country about the labour market demands. They say that the Australian government is not ready to meet such demands and that turning to foreign workers may be the only possible answer.
Australia’s tightly administered guest worker scheme should be revisited according to experts. They should reconsider allowing Pacific Islanders to acquire low-skilled jobs that are included among the country’s labour shortages list. They should design more attractive schemes to meet the high demand.
The new facilities, booming economy, resources, and investments, will push the government to look at immigration. Not only does the country have shortages in low-skilled jobs but there is a growing demand in skilled jobs in the industries of communications, transportation, and mining as well. If the country does not turn to immigration, then these jobs may well then be included in their job shortages list. Other labour shortages include jobs in the hospitality and primary industries.
In 2007, there was a record of 177,600 people migrating to Australia. It has been forecasted that in the next 20 years, the only increase in labour supply will come from an increase in the rates of immigration.