The federal government is to cut immigration intake in an effort to preserve jobs during the global financial crisis.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans will announce today a 14 per cent cut to the skilled migration program, capping the number of workers to enter Australia next year at 115,000, down from 133,500 in 2008-09, Fairfax newspapers report.
Skilled workers make up the majority of migrants.
The decision to cut back on foreign workers comes as pressure mounts on the government after last week's jump in unemployment to 5.2 per cent.
"The economic circumstances in Australia have changed as a result of the global financial crisis," Senator Evans said. "It is prudent to reduce this year's migration intake accordingly."
The cuts will be coupled with deletions to the critical skills list, which specifies which jobs are open to migrants.
Trades in building and manufacturing will be removed, forcing companies to find bricklayers, plumbers, welders and carpenters domestically.
Professions still experiencing skills shortages will be immune, such as nurses, doctors, engineers and information technology workers.
Senator Evans said Australia needs a more targeted list "so that migrant workers are meeting skills shortages and not competing with locals for jobs".
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[headline] => Government to cut immigration intake
[abstract] => The federal government is to cut immigration intake in an effort to preserve jobs during the global financial crisis.
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The federal government is to cut immigration intake in an effort to preserve jobs during the global financial crisis.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans will announce today a 14 per cent cut to the skilled migration program, capping the number of workers to enter Australia next year at 115,000, down from 133,500 in 2008-09, Fairfax newspapers report.
Skilled workers make up the majority of migrants.
The decision to cut back on foreign workers comes as pressure mounts on the government after last week's jump in unemployment to 5.2 per cent.
"The economic circumstances in Australia have changed as a result of the global financial crisis," Senator Evans said. "It is prudent to reduce this year's migration intake accordingly."
The cuts will be coupled with deletions to the critical skills list, which specifies which jobs are open to migrants.
Trades in building and manufacturing will be removed, forcing companies to find bricklayers, plumbers, welders and carpenters domestically.
Professions still experiencing skills shortages will be immune, such as nurses, doctors, engineers and information technology workers.
Senator Evans said Australia needs a more targeted list "so that migrant workers are meeting skills shortages and not competing with locals for jobs".
[start_date] => 16 March 2009 | 06:32:26 AM
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[label] => Skills training program 'to save lost generation'
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[headline] => Skills training program 'to save lost generation'
[abstract] => Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is
planning a massive program of skills training and Year 12 retention
targeting hundreds of thousands of young people unable to find
their first job.
[content] =>
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is planning a massive program of skills training and Year 12 retention targeting hundreds of thousands of young people unable to find their first job.
She told The Australian she plans in the next two years to offer young people incentives to either stay at school and complete Year 12 or to undertake skills training.
Ms Gillard fears that the global recession could create a lost generation of young people stuck on dole queues for so long that they become unemployable.
She will also aim assistance at people in their 40s who are made redundant to prevent them from spiralling into long-term unemployment and poverty.
The paper said Ms Gillard refused to outline the details but said she would propose sweeping reform at the next meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, not yet scheduled but due within weeks.
COAG would consider "reform that will engage more young people in education and training for longer to help prevent them drifting into unemployment in the next two years", she said.
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[site_name] => World News Australia
[articledate] => 16 March 2009
[articletime] => 16 March 2009
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