Skilled Occupation List

Australia's skilled migration program will be demand-driven

In a media release by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on 17th May, senator Chris Evans announced a new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) designed to deliver highly skilled migrants and crackdown on people seeking permanent residency through low-value education courses.

Senator Evans said the list, developed by the independent body Skills Australia and containing 181 highly valued occupations, would ensure Australia's skilled migration program is demand-driven rather than supply-driven. 'We intend to fundamentally change the way we target skilled migrants to restore integrity to the skilled migration program,' Senator Evans said.