Temporary migrants contribute more to Australian economy: CEDA

Temporary skilled migrants have not displaced Australian workers despite fears immigrants threaten the local job market, a new analysis by an independent economic organisation has revealed.

Source: SBS Nepali

Research by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has also shown immigration has not harmed the earnings of local workers.

The report, "Effects of temporary migration", showed there are about two million people on temporary visas, including students, working holiday-makers, skilled workers and New Zealand citizens.

The research, released on Monday, showed 70 per cent of temporary skilled migrants reside in NSW and Victoria, which have the lowest rates of unemployment in Australia.

These workers are excluded from free or subsidised government services but contribute to tax revenues, "resulting in a net benefit to government budgets".

"Despite repeated claims and assertions, the evidence suggests that the success of recent waves of migrants in the labour force does not come at the expense of Australian workers," the report said.

The top four occupations granted visas in 2017-18 were developer programmer, ICT business analyst, university lecturer and cook.

The top three citizenships of visa holders were from the United Kingdom, India and the Philippines.