Australia 457 Visa Application Records Growth Of 15% Increase

18 Jul 2015

The Australian immigration Department has released the latest figures, it states that there has been growth of 15% in the number of application for  Australian work (skilled )subclass 457 visa, during the period 2014 and 2015.

The 457 visa has been gaining more and more popularity. The number of visas granted increased from 30,000 in 1998 to 120,000 in the year 2013. The 457 visa also allows the migrants, who are sponsored by the Australian business under business sponsporship or under a labor agreement with the Australian immigration Department entry to work in Australia for upto 4 years. The individuals would require to meet varied skills, health requirement ,language as well as to undergo varied background check.

To employ a worker on Australian 457 visa, the employer should be looking to fill a position on the Australian govt’s skilled occupation list. The employer should also demonstrate that they have good record of employing the Australian employing the Australian workers and must have no relevant adverse information against them such as evidence of having bad practice earlier.  In few situations, such as if the employers have been negotiated a labour agreement with the Australian government labor market testing is not essential.

-Biggest rise in demand for 457 work visa include IT, Hospitality and science sectors

The popularity of this particular visa looks’ to increase further. In the previous 9 months between June 2014 and March 2015 nearing to 40,870 application were received for 457 visa, thus it is up by 15% when compared to  previous application received during the 9 month  period between  July 2013 and ending March 2014 were 35,440.

While braking down by category wise, the application increases were concentrated in accommodation and food services (37 %), information and technology (31 %) and Scientific, professional and technical services (27%). Nearing to 50% applications were from countries such as India, UK and China.

As per the figures around 25% of 457 visa holders were travelers and foreign students.

-There has been surge in engineers on 457 visas

Due to shortage of engineers in Australia, there has been rise in the applications for the 457 visa’s for scientific, professional and technical category. As per the Australian Financial Review newspaper, since last 10 years the Australian economy needed around 20,000 new engineers each year.  But Australian Universities only produce around 9500 engineer graduates each year.

The shortfall has been made up mainly through skilled migrants. About 5935, 457 visas has been granted to engineers since 2013. Despite having continued demand for the workers with these skills, engineers were taken off the Australian Employment Department’s skills shortage list in that particular year.

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