There has been talk in the British media that Australian workers in the UK are returning home to escape the recession in Great Britain. At the same time, Australia is not exactly immune to the global financial crisis and it has seen unemployment figures rise in the past few months…so what does all this mean for anyone who wants to emigrate to live and work Down Under.
Well, it depends which way you look at it. There are those who are mumbling about the fact that perhaps Australia will close its doors to skilled migrants in order to protect what jobs there are and ensure they go to native aussies – but there is also another more learned school of thought!
In a recent article in the Guardian, that referenced opinion from recruitment and business experts in Australia, a case was argued whereby Australia can benefit massively from worldwide redundancies by hand picking and recruiting the very best international staff to plug skills gaps that still exist in the Australian jobs market. So, if you’re a skilled professional and you’re looking for jobs in Sydney where there are vacancies currently for everything from university lecturers and finance experts to engineers and medical practitioners…let us tell you what’s available and how to go about finding work and moving to live in Australia’s most vibrant city of all.
The argument put forth in the Guardian was absolutely fair and correct in our opinion. Australia has – and has had for a long time - a shortage of specifically skilled individuals in fields such as engineering and medicine. These sorts of skills gaps are not being filled by native Australians – therefore, the need has to be satisfied by international staff. Whilst the likes of hairdressers, chefs and accountants have all been welcomed in to the nation in perhaps now sufficient numbers for the time being, there are still critically required skills and talents lacking.
It has apparently been suggested that these ‘critical skills’ are made into a list, and anyone applying for relocation to live and work in Australia who has the qualifications, talents, skills and experience to match those most in demand are given preferential treatment when it comes to getting relocation and residency visas. We can see this becoming a reality because yes, whilst there are some areas of the jobs market in Australia where returning Australians and recently jobless natives can certainly plug vacancies, there are others where they can’t. It is these areas where Britons looking for jobs in the likes of Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra or Brisbane will practically be able to walk off the plane and into fulltime employment.
Some have suggested that there will be a backlash against migrants – but we cannot see there being a backlash against pockets of skilled workers who have already increased the Australian coffers to the tune of AUD 535.6 million annually in tax revenue etc. What’s more, the most in demand skills are often in high paying professions meaning that ‘incomers’ will benefit the wider and deeper economy with their consumer spending and though buying property.
So, what jobs are vacant in Sydney? Well, if you work in healthcare or IT, construction or engineering then you are very much wanted! And because Sydney is considered the jobs capital of Australia, targeting this city specifically for your job search is not a bad idea! Another area of specific demand in Sydney is the educational sector – The Australian newspaper recently highlighted the fact that the University of Sydney is heavily recruiting and looking to increase staff by 10%.
If you are keen to find work in Sydney, visit the Australian government’s immigration website first and see which skills are most in demand. If the qualifications and experience you have match up, know that you’re in a good position for a visa. You can then set about looking for a job now, and perhaps getting an employer to sponsor your visa and even your relocation.
