Ads for new jobs in Australia reached more than a quarter of a million each week by May 2007. It is a 40.8% jump from last year’s figures. The combination of a flourishing economy, the lowest unemployment rate in three decades, and a low birth rate have resulted in a serious shortage of skilled workers.  

Jobs in Australia

Australian employers need foreign workers. Every year Australian companies sponsor 26,000 skilled foreign workers whose 457 work visas allow them to work in the country for a period of three months to four years.  Right now there are 105,000 sponsored workers in Australia and the number is expected to increase substantially this year. The Australian Department of Immigration showed that the number of new skilled workers that enter the country is increasing annually and will reach almost 103,000 in 2008.

Many SMEs prefer to hire an agency to find the employees that they need and arrange for their migration to Australia. It is not easy to find workers who speak English and possess the right qualifications for the job. Migration is a complex process that involves the migration laws of both destination country and country of origin. Agencies usually charge the employer from $4,000 to $6,000 for each worker and the process may take from three to six months.

Moving to Australia

If you’re relocating to Australia, these are the documents (original not copies) that you must prepare: birth and marriage certificates, academic credentials, an international driver’s license, resume/curriculum vitae, and references. Websites on Australian real estate are not extensive but you can use Australian newspapers to find houses or apartments that you can rent or buy. Competition is quite strong for desirable properties and areas, and it is better to prepare the necessary deposit money and references to have an edge. The Australian education and health systems are quite good. This is very important for foreign workers with families. There are public and private schools that are both subsidized by government and whose emphasis is on self-discipline and fostering interest in learning and not on rote memorization. The World Health Organization rates the country’s health system (private and public) as one of the top in spending for health needs and ensuring a healthy and long life for its citizens.

Salaries and Benefits in Australia

Western and Northern Australia have registered the highest salary increases in the whole country.  For instance, salaries in Western Australia rose by an average 23% in the wealth management and financial planning sectors. In Northern Australia, Queensland has scored gains in the banking, financial services, construction, property and IT sectors. Salaries increased by more than six percent for almost a third of workers in advertising and media, construction, property and engineering and resources and mining.  The majority of other workers received three to six percent salary increases.

Based on September 2006 data, professionals such as accountants earn $68,000 to $85,000 a year, general practitioners $1,500 a week, and  computer professionals $35,000 to 180,000 while trades persons such as carpenters, cabinet makers and bricklayers earn about $700 a week and general electricians $840 a week. The source of this information, the 2007 Hays Salary Survey, can be accessed through the Internet and includes information gathered from 42 areas in Australia.

Local Taxes in Australia

As a new foreign worker, you must register and get a tax file number if you don’t want to pay higher taxes.  You can go to a main tax office where the entire process will take about a month. You will receive a registration notice so that you can work and be taxed appropriately. After you get your number, you should inform your consultant at once. If you earn at least $450 a month, your employer will have to pay 9% of your gross salary to a Superannuation Fund, which is a compulsory pension contribution. You have to make sure via your recruitment consultant that your employer will shoulder the superannuation tax in addition to your pay rate. All wage and salary earners in Australia have to file an annual tax return of total income earned and tax paid within the tax year (1 July-30 June).

Jobs in High Demand in Australia

The present labor shortage affects a wide sampling of employment sectors including IT. Almost 4,500 IT professionals were recently granted 457 visas. The construction and mining industries in West Australia are both experiencing a boom period and have petitioned the government to facilitate the granting of temporary work visas. Some companies have also expressed their need for “semi-skilled” workers to fill critical functions in the trucking industry. In general the shortage for skilled labor is most keenly felt in the resources, information technology, professional services and hospitality sectors.

Immigration and Visa Issues in Australia

You need a work permit or work visa to be able to work in Australia.  The government has established a point system, which it uses to classify positions depending on the demand for people who can fill them. The higher the need of employers for your particular skills, the better your chances of getting the work permit.  The best way to get a work visa is to apply to an Australian company that will be your sponsor and provide you with a contract of employment.

Australia has a point system to determine the eligibility of foreign workers for a work visa or permit.     Skilled workers sponsored by eligible family members can apply for the Skilled Australian Sponsored Visa.  They must meet the basic visa requirements and get a score of 110 points. If successful they will be able to get permanent residency status. Skilled workers  sponsored by eligible family members can apply for the Skilled Designated Area Sponsorship (Provisional) Visa which will grant them a three year work permit and an opportunity to get permanent residency status.

Many foreign workers come in sponsored by Australian or overseas businesses on a Temporary Business Long Stay Visa Subclass 457, which enables them to work from three months up to three years. Foreign workers sponsored by states or territories can be granted the Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) Visa, which lasts for three years and requires him or her to live and work in an Australian region or a low population growth area. After three years the worker can either renew the visa or apply for permanent residence. Similar to this is the Skilled State/Territory Nominated Independent Visa. The Skilled Independent Visa, on the other hand, is not contingent on family or government sponsorship but on the person’s passing the basic Visa criteria and a 120 point score. Foreign workers who pass the requirements will obtain permanent residence.

Best Job Locations in Australia

As discussed earlier, Western and Northern Australian are “boom regions” where employers are looking for many skilled workers and have given substantial raises in 2006.

Online Job Sources in Australia

An Australian government website, the largest job site, can assist you in job searches and related useful information: https://jobsearch.gov.au/Login/Login.aspx?WHCode=0

You can post your resume on Oz Free Job where it can be viewed by potential employers: http://jobs.ozfreeonline.com .  You can also browse the site for listings of available jobs/positions.

For more websites, you can use the keywords Australian jobs. There are many entries that are worth exploring.