Review of the skilled migration occupation lists scheduled to be announced in March 2020
The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business (formerly known as the Department of Jobs and Small Business) has officially commenced its review of the lists and has begun public stakeholder consultation. The Department is responsible for reviewing the skilled migration occupation lists in association with interested industry stakeholders to ensure the skilled migration occupation lists align with the needs of Australian businesses.
The Department has released an indicative timeline as set out below;
| Indicative skilled migration occupation list review timeline | |
| 4 September 2019 |
|
| December 2019 |
|
| Feb 2020 |
|
| March 2020 |
|
Which Skilled Migration Occupation Lists are being reviewed?
All occupations in Australia available via Australia’s employer-sponsored, points-tested and state nominated visa programs are based on the following three lists:
- the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
- the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
- the Regional Occupation List (ROL)
Opportunity for interested stakeholders to undertake meetings and provide feedback
The department will be meeting with interested stakeholders and undertaking round tables with selected industries and groups across Australia. If you are in an industry that is experiencing significant skills shortages, and the occupation lists are not reflective of these shortages for either not being on the relevant skilled occupation list or not being on the MLTSSL (that is, providing visa holders with the opportunity to transition to permanent residency) we strongly encourage you to engage with the Department to put forward these concerns.
The Department is also aware that some stakeholders are unable to find the relevant occupation code for the position they are seeking to fill by international workers. In most cases this is because the occupation may be a specialisation within a larger occupation or is a new or emerging occupation that is not yet reflected in the Australian and New Zealand Statistical Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
Ethos Migration Lawyers will continue to provide updates in association with the Skilled Migration Occupation List review and provide further information as it becomes available.