Western Australian companies reported the nation’s highest growth in 457 visa recruitment over the past 12 months, according to KPMG’s latest annual skilled migration survey.
Forty nine per cent of responding companies in WA recorded an increase in 457 numbers over the past year compared to 36 per cent of respondents nationally.
In WA, 80 per cent of companies indicated they planned to increase their 457 visa hires over the next 12 months compared to 66 per cent nationally.
“While this is obviously aligned to the resources boom, the figures do illustrate that migrant workers are becoming a more viable alternative to fill shortages,” the report said.
The report said mining was the industry that accounted for the largest portion of increased use of 457 visas, at 11 per cent, followed by manufacturing and construction, both at 10 per cent, and electricity, oil, gas and water supply – under the umbrella of resources and energy – at 9 per cent.
The latest statistics from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship states the top three industries for 457 visa grants in 2010-11 were health care and social assistance (accounting for 13 per cent), other services (12.4 per cent) and construction (12.3 per cent).
The department’s report outlined that the number of 457 visas granted to the end of June 2011 was 38.2 per cent higher than the same period in the 2009-10 period.
In that year 78 per cent of 457s were for managers and professionals while 16.5 per cent went to technicians and trades workers.
The recently released Australian Tourism Labour Force Report highlights the importance of 457s for that industry.
Federal tourism minister Martin Ferguson released the report and said: “Nationally, we have an estimated 35,800 vacancies in tourism industry jobs and an additional 56,000 people will be needed to fill vacancies by 2015, including 26,000 skilled positions.
“The actions already being taken by the Australian Government to address these shortages through programs such as the use of 457 visas, extended student visas and the Pacific seasonal workers pilot program are justified by this report, but clearly more work needs to be done.
“The current vacancies are a result of the recruitment and retention difficulties, as well as the skills deficiencies challenging the tourism industry. The industry has an average employee turnover rate of 64 per cent, a rate that jumps to as high as 118 per cent in the Northern Territory.”
KPMG’s report said the UK and Ireland remained as the source country for most of Australia’s skilled migrants with 31 per cent of respondents recruiting from that region (29 per cent in 2010).
The rest of Europe accounts for 17.5 per cent of 457 immigrants and China/South East Asia accounts for 15.5 per cent.
