Australia's permanent migration intake could increase to address skill shortages

Healthcare workers with seniors in nursing home. Credit: Getty Images

Australia's permanent migration intake could increase to up to 200,000 as the nation battles skills shortages following a low visa uptake during the height of the pandemic. The government has flagged its open to the change ahead of the first jobs and skills summit next month.

The government appears to be considering a rise in the migration cap, and discussing a figure of up to 200,000 places.

Before the pandemic, migration was capped at 190,000 places.

That figure dropped in 2019 to 160,000.

It has remained at this level since.

This doesn't account for net migration, which is the number of migrants coming in minus the number of workers leaving the country.

And during the pandemic net migration entered into negative territory.

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