The Australian Federal Government has announced a new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) to fill urgent skills needs in critical sectors, allowing small numbers of sponsored skilled workers to enter Australia.

The list identifies 17 occupations that fill urgent skills needs in sectors deemed critical to Australia’s COVID-19 response and economic recovery, based on expert advice from the National Skills Commission and consultation with Commonwealth departments. Visa holders who have been sponsored by an Australian business in one of the specific occupations will be able to apply for fast-tracked entry to Australia, which includes roles such as Software Engineer, Developer Programmer and Chief Executive/Managing Director.

While those applying for a fast-tracked visa under the PMSOL can request a travel exemption, they will still be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own expense. At the same time, labour market testing will also be strengthened, with businesses needing to provide evidence that the role has been advertised on the Government’s Jobactive website for 28 days, in addition to meeting existing requirements.

Enticing the World’s Best Talent to Australian Shores

The new skills priority list provides a valuable opportunity for Australian businesses to get access to some of the best talent in the world and leverage hard-to-find skills for the benefit of long-term performance and growth. With IT becoming increasingly central to business operations as a result of COVID-19, the PMSOL reflects the important role that the Tech sector will play in Australia’s future economic success. Organisations will be able to fill critical talent gaps as quickly as possible, equipping them with the people they need to adapt to the pressures of the current climate and anticipate long-term requirements.

As Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge explains, the PMSOL and testing updates aim to strike the right balance for the economy, protecting local jobseekers while expanding the talent pool for employers where it is needed most.

“Our priority is getting Australians back into work, but we also need […] skilled migrants who are going to be job multipliers, to help the economy recover,” he said.

For organisations looking to make the most of the changes to secure skilled international candidates on fast-tracked visas, having a recruitment partner to support them through the process and ensure they hire the best people while meeting labour market testing requirements is key. To find out how the PMSOL will affect your business and how we can help you navigate the recruitment process, speak to our team today.