In KPMG’s fourth annual Skilled Migration survey, 60 percent of respondents highlight Australia’s continuing skills shortages with many businesses concluding that skill shortages will remain a more or less permanent feature of the Australian economic landscape, demanding a longer term, more strategic approach to the issue.

The 457 temporary visa program and other skilled immigration programs represent attempts by government to deal with ongoing skills shortages and our survey finds Australian organisations are generally satisfied with the government response with 90 percent of organisations surveyed able to sponsor the skilled workers they require under the 457 visa program.

Other key findings:

• Sixty-one percent of respondents report they have fewer than five percent of their total workforces employed under 457 temporary visa arrangements. The program allows them to fill skill gaps at the margins as and when needed.
• The main reason respondents gave for recruiting offshore is an insufficient supply of appropriately skilled workers in the domestic labour market (69 percent) followed by the ‘quality’ of locally sourced staff. Only one percent of employers surveyed identified the reluctance of locals to work in remote locations as a significant problem.
• More than 60 percent expect up to 10 percent of their current 457 visa holders will apply for permanent residency over the coming 12 months.

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At GMH Legal, we deal with all types of Migration matters. To arrange a free initial consultation, please call our Principal Solicitor on (02) 9587 0458 or send us an email on ghanna@gmhlegal.com.