17 May 2009

On 8 February 2010, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced that the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) was revoked from that date. He also announced his intention that the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) be replaced from the second half of 2010 with a new list of targeted occupations. A new list of occupations has been developed based on advice from the independent body, Skills Australia. Skills Australia has been established by the Australian Government to provide expert and independent advice on matters relating to Australia’s current, emerging and future workforce skills and workforce development needs.

The introduction of a new list of occupations is part of a package of proposed reforms that reflects the government’s commitment to a labour market demand-driven skilled migration program.

The number of places available to independent skilled migrants in the skilled migration program is expected to fall as the number of places available for employer-sponsored skilled migrants increases. Employer-sponsored migration matches migrants directly to jobs in Australia, making it the best method to ensure the labour market gets the skills it needs now.

It is therefore important that the smaller number of independent skilled migration places that are available are filled by migrants with skills that are critical to Australia’s economic development in the medium to long term. The new list of occupations identifies these skills.

The current SOL has more than 400 occupations. The new list of occupations, which was announced by the Minister on 17 May 2010, includes 181 occupations.

Click here to view the list.
 
The new list is intended to align the GSM program with Australia’s overall workforce development strategy, also developed by Skills Australia. The new list is focused on targeting specialised occupations that require a long lead time of formal education and training. It includes managerial, professional, associate-professional and trade occupations. The list of occupations will be reviewed annually but it is expected that it will be relatively stable over time.

The new SOL is proposed to commence on 1 July 2010.

For more information visit: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm