Thinking of Australia? What Two New Government Reports Tell Skilled Workers About Their Next Step

News · 2026-08-25 · 5 min read

Many of us dream of working in Australia, but official statistics can feel far from the everyday question of 'Should I apply, and when?' Good news: Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released two fresh reports that help answer exactly that. The first looks at how the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa has performed so far. The second follows migrants after arrival and asks how they are doing at work. Side by side, the picture is hopeful, with a few points worth keeping in mind if you are mapping out your plans for the second half of 2026.

A young visa that is doing what it was built to do

The Skills in Demand visa is still new. It started in December 2024 and took the place of the older Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. JSA's review looks at roughly the first ten months of the visa, up to September 2025. The authors choose their words carefully: there is not much data yet, but what has come through so far matches the goals of the Migration Strategy. For you as an applicant, that does not mean everything is settled. It simply means the rules seem to be working the way the government planned, which is reassuring when you are about to spend your savings and your time on a program that has not been around for long.

Is your job one that the visa favours?

If you want to check where you stand, the occupation figures are the most helpful part of the report. Approvals in the Specialist Skills Stream went mostly to managers and professionals. Grants in the Core Skills Stream went largely to professionals, technicians and trades workers. In short, the visa is rewarding people with higher skills and recognised trade qualifications, just as intended. That is why getting your occupation right, and backing it up with clear documents, is one of the most important things you and your migration adviser can do. Whether you are working in the Middle East or back home in the Philippines, make sure your papers describe your actual role clearly, because overseas work experience counts.

Better pay offers under the new rules

Here is some practical news. Nominated salaries under the new visa are higher than what people used to receive under the old TSS system. A big reason seems to be the indexed salary thresholds, which now go up every year and are lifting nominated pay in general. When you talk about an offer with an employer who will sponsor you, it is fair to bring this up politely. The thresholds keep moving, so a salary that is enough today may need another look before your contract is signed next year.

Another door: arrangements built around one employer

Outside the usual visa route, JSA noticed a clear increase in Labour Agreements. These are custom deals that employers negotiate when the regular visa subclasses do not match the workers they need. If your line of work never seems to fit neatly on the usual occupation lists, keep an eye on this trend. An agreement shaped around one employer's needs may open a door that an ordinary nomination would not.

Where the jobs are growing

JSA's second report found that the Australian job market has stayed resilient overall, although some areas are starting to cool a little. Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services led employment growth over the year. Health Care and Social Assistance and Education and Training were not far behind. Professionals, as a group, recorded the biggest employment gains of any occupation category in the year to February 2026. This helps if you are still deciding which industry to aim for, not only which visa to apply for.

Life after landing matters too

The most valuable finding may have nothing to do with visa rules at all. How migrants do after arrival depends a lot on their skills, their English, their work experience and how long they have been in the country. JSA's data shows that female migrants face higher unemployment than male migrants in most states and territories, and that recent arrivals have a harder time than those who have been settled for longer. This is not a reason to give up on your plans. It is a reason to prepare for your first months as carefully as you prepare your application, whether that means improving your English, getting local work experience, or building professional contacts before you arrive. If you have worked abroad before, you already know how much those first months shape everything that follows.

Putting it all together

Neither report tells you to go or to stop. Read side by side, they work like a planning guide: salary thresholds are rising, certain occupations are clearly in favour, Labour Agreements are growing as another option, and the job market is strong but not the same everywhere.

Whether you are a worker or an employer, use these numbers as part of your plan rather than as background news, and check that plan again as migration settings change through 2026. Kaya natin 'to! Take it one careful step at a time, keep your documents in order, and rely on official sources whenever details change.

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