19 February 2010

A report released today shows that nearly 90 per cent of Temporary skilled migrants granted 457 visas in the period 2009 – 2010 so far are managers and professional workers.

The same report also shows that the average salary for all new temporary skilled migrant workers has increased by $10,000 over the same period. This takes the average temporary skilled migrant salary to over $100,000.

The region with the highest paid temporary skilled overseas workers was Western Australia where the average package was $114,800, followed by New South Wales at $101,100, Queensland at $97,900 and Tasmania at $94,100.

Research shows that those employed in the mining industry had the highest salary followed by those in the financial and insurance services sector.

The summary report of Subclass 457 visas granted in the first seven months of 2009-10 also shows:

• Primary visa grants in January 2010 were 45 per cent lower than January 2009 and six per cent lower than December 2009.
• At the end of January 2010 there were 71 290 Subclass 457 primary visa holders in Australia, which is 13 per cent lower than at the end of January 2009.
• A quarter of all primary visa applications granted have been to citizens of the United Kingdom with 15 per cent to citizens of India and eight per cent to US citizens.
• Registered nurses, doctors and computing professionals are the top occupations for primary visa grants.
• 176 sponsors have been sanctioned for breaching their sponsorship obligations.

Senator Evans comments: “The Rudd Government recognises the need for industry to access temporary skilled overseas labour where there are demonstrated skills shortages but is committed to ensuring they are not employed ahead of local workers or used to undermine Australian wages and conditions”.

Worker protection laws brought into force on September 14th 2009 helped to ensure that all temporary skilled overseas workers are npw paid market salary rates and have the same working conditions as those provided to an Australian worker undertaking the same role in the workplace.

The full report is available online at: www.immi.gov.au/media/statistics/