Australia's skilled occupations list updated

Australia's new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) has been announced by Skills Australia. The new list will apply from 1 July 2012 for all applicants wishing to come to Australia under the General Skilled Migration program, unless they are sponsored by a State or Territory Government or eligible for transitional arrangements.

In total, four occupations were added to the list and four occupations have been removed from the list.

Occupations Added to Skilled Occupations List

The following occupations have been added to the SOL:

• 133513 Production Manager (Mining)
• 234912 Metallurgists
• 251411 Optometrist
• 263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer

Most of these were added to the list due to skills shortages and expected growth in these occupations.

Occupations Removed from Skilled Occupations List

The following occupations have been removed from to the SOL:

• 234211 Chemist
• 252711 Audiologist
• 331111 Bricklayer
• 333411 Wall and Floor Tiler

Most of these were removed from the list due to low growth or high unemployment rates in these occupations.

General Skilled Migration

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is for immigrants who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in occupations that Australia needs to fill labor shortages. Applicants must be between 18 and 50 years of age and speak good English. You must also have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the SOL.

Also, from 1 July 2012, Australian immigration will be introducing significant changes to their skilled migration visa program. If you are likely to have your skills assessment completed soon we can help you to beat the deadline. If you contact us by 24 June 2012 we can also obtain sponsorship quickly in Western Australia. You should contact us now at ozvisa@workpermit.com to discuss your various Australian visa options. There will continue to be plenty of Australian immigration opportunities after 1 July 2012.

If you would like to apply for an Australian visa, workpermit.com can help. workpermit.com is a specialist visa consultancy with nearly twenty-five years of experience dealing with visa applications. We can help with a wide range of visa applications to your country of choice. Please feel free to contact us for further details.