Carrying the dream of a high quality of life and good job opportunities, thousands immigrate to Australia and make it their home. Over the past several decades this country has rolled out the red carpet for many. To improve the immigration process, the country unveiled the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, replacing the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. The SID visa shares the same TSS Subclass (482). This shift in immigration policies from Australia will serve two purposes, address critical workforce shortage along with streamlining pathways for global talent.
An important part of this new immigration programme from Australia is the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) which mentions 456 occupations currently in demand in the country. It will be easier for people to immigrate to Australia if they have qualifications and experience in any occupations mentioned in the list. Here, immigration consultants in Australia will help you explore how the SID visa can be advantageous for both immigrants and Australian employers.
The Mystery Behind the Core Skills Occupation List
Before December 7, 2024, the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) was in use. However, the list was not able to meet current job market requirements. It has been replaced by the newly created CSOL which provides a more relevant and dynamic approach to planning immigration requirements. Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) conducted extensive research and analysis to frame the list. This list clears out one thing, the SID visa programme will follow a targeted approach to immigration, like the one now followed by other countries, bringing only those immigrants that are in demand.
The Structure of the SID Visa Programme
Making the immigration process easier, the SID visa programme has three distinct tiers based on the level of qualification and expertise along with the salary offered by the programme.
The first is the specialist skill pathway that is calling immigrants who have the highest level of qualification and expertise. Immigrants in this tier will be earning AUD 135,000 or more annually. The visa processing time for this visa category will be around seven days. Job roles not included in this tier are machinery operators, trades workers, drivers, and labourers.
The second tier, the core skills pathway, comprises professions with earnings between AUD 70,000 and AUD 135,000. This tier includes a wide range of occupations critical for Australia’s economic growth. Professions with annual salaries of less than AUD 70,000 are included in the essential skills pathway tier. This tier includes essential industry professionals, such as those in logistics, education, and healthcare.
A Modern Classification for the Future
Changing just one part of the system will not provide the desired results. Along with launching a new immigration programme and framing a new occupation list, Australia has also come out with a new classification framework. The Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) will now be effective in place of the older version of ANZSCO. In preparation for the future, job roles of the present time will have a completely new look, including the expectations from the professionals.
Here are some examples: Agronomists will replace what we have previously referred to as Agricultural Scientists. Respiratory Technicians will now have a distinct category in the healthcare sector. The purpose of this revision is to have greater clarity for both the immigrants and employers. The pruning and fine-tuning of the immigration system has excluded certain occupations, such as cafe manager, copywriter, and chiropractor. This indicates that immigrants will not be called for jobs that machines can perform.
Just like any other change, the new immigration programme and its associated revisions have fetched mixed responses from all corners. The move has received praise from people in the education, healthcare and technology sectors. Things will become smoother and it will be easier for these sectors to hire global talent.
Points to Consider for Employers and Immigrants
The CSOL has been created keeping in mind areas experiencing a shortage of manpower. The SID visa has laid out clear guidelines for employers on how to hire international workers. There is less of an administrative hurdle, facilitating easy recruitment of talent in high-demand areas.
The journey to moving to Australia and working there has become easy for prospective immigrants as the new visa programme requires only one year of experience to apply. This means the visa will be easily accessible. To reap maximum benefits from the new SID visa programme, employers should align the job roles with the CSOL, carry out genuine recruitment efforts, and offer competitive salaries. Those who want to immigrate through this programme should comply with the visa requirements, such as meeting the salary threshold and working in approved roles. Talk to immigration consultants in Chandigarh to know more about this new programme.
Takeaway
The launch of the SID visa and CSOL marks the start of a new era of skilled immigration in Australia. Employers can now meet their needs for skilled workers, while immigrants have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully. The programme aims to position Australia as a hub for global talent and a leading example of efficient, needs-based immigration policy.
