Jobs and Skills Summit concludes as work on reforms begins
14 September 2022
Highlights
- The conclusion of the Jobs and Skills Summit represented the culmination of weeks of preparation by State and territory industry associations, other stakeholder representatives, and Government itself.
- However, the work has only just started, and the ACS is looking forward to working with the Federal and State governments to get more people from all backgrounds into the industry.
The Jobs and Skills Summit in #Canberra last week illustrated the importance of the digital and IT sector to the nation and the opportunities the tech industry offers Australians. The conclusion of the Jobs and Skills Summit represented the culmination of weeks of preparation by State and territory industry associations, other stakeholder representatives, and Government itself.
However, the work has only just started, and the ACS is looking forward to working with the Federal and State governments to get more people from all backgrounds into the industry. This is particularly important in workplace relations, which has emerged as a key area where business must remain focused and resolute when engaging government.
Outcomes from the Jobs and Skills Summit
The Summit delivered some immediate outcomes to help alleviate some of the intense employment pressures being felt across the country. These are encouraging signs of willingness across government and industry to find genuine solutions.
1. Increased eligibility for pensioners to work
Under the plan, pensioners will be able to earn an additional $4,000 this financial year without losing any of their existing fortnightly allocation. The Prime Minister indicated that these changes would be legislated in the coming weeks.
2. Migration cap lifted by 35,000
A significant concession was achieved with the agreement to lift Australia’s permanent migration cap from 160,000 to 195,000 in FY2022/23. While it was agreed that migration is not the silver bullet to fix our workforce shortages, there was recognition that this is an essential part of the mix in the suite of solutions that must be found.
3. Commitment to speed up visa processing
The Government has committed to invest $36.1 million in visa processing to speed up the approvals process and address the severe backlog of skilled visa holders awaiting final approval.
4.Permanent residency pathway for international students
Education Minister Jason Clare announced important visa changes that will see international students able to add an extra two years to stay and work in Australia. The move is seen as a first step in encouraging more international students to move into permanent migration pathways, but will be limited to those who graduate from courses in key industries of skill shortages across nursing, teaching, IT and engineering.
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