Employer-backed migration surges

Employer-sponsored skilled migration levels are surging even as the federal government makes deep cuts to permanent residency numbers, a report shows.

One in five of Australia's 171,318 migrants during the past financial year was sponsored by an employer.

The employer-sponsored intake - part of the skilled migration category - surged by 60 per cent to 38,026, a level higher than initial plans for 37,080 places, the government's migration program report released on Monday said.

The government introduced a critical skills list in January, which gives priority to employer-sponsored skilled migration.

"A properly targeted migration program will ensure we have the right-sized and appropriately-skilled labour force to meet Australia's needs now and into the future as our economy grows and recovers," Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans said in a statement.

Australia's overall skilled migration stream made up two-thirds of the migration intake during the past financial year, with the remainder arriving through the family stream.

But the tally of 115,000 skilled migration places was cut by 14 per cent in March 2009, as fewer independent applicants were accepted.

The skilled migration intake for this financial year has been trimmed to 108,000 places.

"The migration intake in the coming year reflects the economic conditions while ensuring employers can gain access to skilled professionals in industries still experiencing skills shortages such as healthcare and engineering," Senator Evans said.

The United Kingdom was Australia's largest source of migrants during the past financial year, but its share has fallen in recent years - from 21.2 per cent in 2006/07 to 17.9 per cent in 2008/09.

India was Australia's second biggest source of migration, followed by China, South Africa, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the United States.

Across all permanent skilled visa categories, accountants, computing professionals and registered nurses were the most successful applicants.

ninemsn 31 Aug 2009

Corporate Driven (Economic Terrorism) skilled / unskilled labour is driven by the cheap plentiful labour from overpopulated countries like China and India.

The host country's workforce as a result is being driven to unemployment.

This is politics for SLAVE LABOUR which is ALSO GOVERNMENT SPONSORED.