The most recent statistics have been released for the Year 2006 to 2007 migration program of Australia by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship or DIAC. According to the statistics, there were about 148,200 permanent visas that were granted to skilled migration, as well as family migration and humanitarian migration categories.

Under the skilled migration, the DIAC Statistics show that there were about 97,920 permanent skilled migrant visas issued. This shows that 66 percent of the total granted visas were allotted to skilled workers. This goes to show that the bulk of migrants in Australia are foreign professionals. At the same time, the average age of these skilled migrants is 31 years of age for the year 2007.

DIAC Statistics show that the top job industry for the category of skilled professionals is accountancy. There were 10,688 accountancy jobs that were granted visas. The second spot goes to the computing professionals including programmers, computer analysts and the like, totalling 4,044 out of the 66 percent. The third major job granted permit was the registered nurse which takes 2,088. Aside from these jobs, other professions were general managers, marketing specialists, mechanical and civil engineers.

As for the countries of origin under the skilled migrants, the top country was United Kingdom at 24,800. It was followed by India at 15,865. China came in close at third with 14,688 migrants. South Africa was fourth with 4,293 and Malaysia accounted 3,838.

As for the Family Immigration, 80 percent or more than 39,900 were spouses, fiancés or interdependent. There were 50,079 family members who were granted visas this year. This accounts for 33 percent of the total migrants in Australia for 2006 to 2007. The countries of origin included UK on the top of the list with 6,540. China was second with 6,037. India came third with 3,634. Philippines took 3,098 slots while Vietnam got 3,040.

Humanitarian Immigration took 16 percent of the total visas granted. This comes to a total of 13,017.