The New South Wales (NSW) Government has rolled out significant changes for the 2024 Skilled Migration Program, primarily addressing labour shortages in critical industries such as healthcare, engineering, and construction. The program introduces revised occupation lists for the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491), narrowing its focus compared to previous years. These changes reflect NSW’s evolving economic priorities and labour needs.
The focus of the 2024 Program
The 2024 migration program emphasises occupations in sectors facing ongoing skill shortages. Key areas of focus include:
- Healthcare Professionals:
- Nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals remain in high demand, particularly in regional areas where healthcare shortages are most acute.
- The focus on healthcare aims to address the growing need for medical professionals across NSW, including metropolitan and regional areas.
- Construction and Engineering:
- NSW’s infrastructure development plans necessitate skilled workers in engineering and construction, with roles such as civil engineers, construction managers, and architects being prioritised to meet the state’s growing urban and regional development demands.
- Skilled Trades:
- Specialized tradespeople like electricians, plumbers, and welders are crucial for both urban growth and regional projects, supporting the construction and energy sectors.
- Regional Development:
- The NSW Government continues to emphasise regional growth, with skilled occupations aimed at revitalising rural areas, addressing both infrastructure and essential services gaps.
Occupations Excluded in 2024
While the 2023 migration program included a broader range of occupations across various sectors, the 2024 program has seen a reduction in eligible roles, particularly in fields where labour shortages have been alleviated. Key sectors that have seen exclusions or reduced migration opportunities include:
- Administrative and Clerical Occupations:
- Roles such as administrative assistants or clerical workers, which were previously included due to demand during the pandemic, are now deprioritised as these shortages have largely been addressed.
- Certain IT and Tech Roles:
- While technology remains crucial, less specialised roles in IT, such as junior developers or systems analysts, may have seen reduced priority, with a stronger focus on infrastructure-related skills.
- Hospitality and Retail:
- The hospitality and retail sectors, which experienced heavy demand during the pandemic recovery period, are now stabilising. Roles such as retail managers or hospitality supervisors are seeing fewer opportunities in the 2024 migration program.
NSW Skilled Occupation Lists for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491
The occupation lists for both the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) have been revised to reflect NSW’s focus on critical industries. The Skilled Nominated Visa allows highly skilled workers to migrate to NSW to fill key skill gaps, while the Skilled Work Regional Visa aims to attract workers to regional areas of the state. Key occupations in high demand across these lists include:
- Healthcare and Social Services: Registered nurses, primary and secondary school teachers, occupational therapists, and aged care professionals.
- Engineering and Construction: Civil engineers, mechanical engineers, construction managers, architects, and urban planners.
- Skilled Trades: Electricians, plumbers, welders, and other essential tradespeople to support infrastructure projects.
- ICT Professionals: While some IT roles are deprioritised, highly specialised professionals such as software engineers and network security analysts are still sought after.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a points-tested permanent visa for highly skilled individuals who can contribute to the NSW economy. To be eligible for NSW nomination, your occupation must fall within an ANZSCO unit group identified below, which reflects skills in high demand across the state, and be eligible for the visa.
Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
Key Changes in the 2024 Migration Program
- Updated Skilled Employment Criteria: NSW has simplified its approach to skilled employment, aligning with the Australian Government’s definition of skilled employment and removing previous restrictions. This change will streamline the application process for skilled workers.
- Changes to EOI Submission: The 2024 program allows more flexibility in submitting Expressions of Interest (EOIs), ensuring that any valid EOI with NSW selected is considered in invitation rounds.
- TSMIT Concession for Subclass 491: A new Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) concession is available for select occupations under Pathway 1 of the Subclass 491 visa, allowing some applicants to meet income requirements more easily.
Conclusion
The 2024 NSW Skilled Migration Program reflects the state’s critical focus on addressing labour shortages in healthcare, construction, and regional development. With a narrower focus on key sectors compared to 2023, applicants must carefully review the updated skilled occupation lists to determine their eligibility. Occupations in administrative roles, general IT positions, and hospitality have been deprioritised, while healthcare, engineering, and skilled trades remain essential to NSW’s growth.
For more information on the NSW Skilled Migration Program and to explore your migration options, contact Kris Ahn Lawyers and book a consultation. Our expert team can guide you through the complexities of the visa process and help you achieve your migration goals.
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