GoldenGate

LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Well amid the loud political swordplay over fuel tax and alcopops following last month's budget, one of the biggest shake-ups in Labor's economic blueprint passed almost without comment.

The number of migrants to Australia next year will jump to around 300,000 - its highest level since the Immigration Department was created after World War II. And there will be a heavy emphasis on skilled labour.

That's before the government's expected announcement of a temporary guest-worker program to import unskilled migrants from the Pacific Islands.

Tom Iggulden reports.

More:
Windows Media/Real Player/Transcript
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/conte...7/s2272014.htm

GoldenGate

Immigration Minister Chris Evans joins the program to talk about the need for more skilled immigrants and temporary workers.



Real Player/Windows Media/Transcript
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/conte...7/s2272017.htm

Vash the Stampede

Great news! Increased immigration (thankfully managed under Australia's strict "points system", which the UK has now copied) will help to address the need for skilled workers, while the influx of new residents will buoy the real estate and construction industries.

rabsody

Have they? That's really good news - about bloody time LOL!

Grayling

According to Chris Evans, last night, many of them will not be skilled and will be temporary......mostly from Pacific islands and Asia.

G

steve`o

dont agree
with a rapid slow down in housing and building in general
just where are these additional skilled people going to work ???
or is just a ploy to get more money into the system ??

Vash the Stampede

Yep.

Vash the Stampede

Only if the "Pacific worker" scheme goes ahead (which it may not). But even if it does, the work will be there for them, so it won't be a problem.

And they'll be "guest workers", so they won't be staying permanently.

Vash the Stampede

Industries are calling for them; they are in demand.

steve`o

and yet the jobless figures rise again ??
go figure ?

jad n rich

Exactly, 20,000 jobs lost last month, consumer/business confidence at all time low, economy is not the rosy thing it was 2 years ago.

But lets face it, Rudd was quoted as saying taking 300,000 plus immigrants a year " WILL KEEP A LID ON WAGES" .

Cheap labour anyone?

jad n rich

Bricklayers in perth are supposed to be in demand, yet people constantly post on here once they get there - no work.

TAFE here is churing out migrants who paid to study bricklaying, none I have met have got more than 2 days a week work.

Chippies - again supposed to be in demand. If we advertise we get 40 odd blokes easily apply.

Brisben

I think the goverment has to be very specific about what these shortages are and what areas of labour need to be filled before they can look for individuals that fit the skills required, like they have done previously through the use of SOL and MODL.

Athough jobless numbers rise, there are still many industries that have a shortage of skilled labour, yes this is affected by a downturn in demand.

No one can predict the future economic environment and whether more availability in terms of skilled labour would benefit the country or not.

But they are trying to address a shortage that has been evident for some time.

If Australia wants to grow financially then it has to grow its industries, imports and exports.

Although the macroenvironment (Gloabl economics) has dictated to Australia a downturn in demand it won't always be like that.

The last thing needed is to be restricted in terms of development and growth because of things that Australia can have an impact on in the microenvironment, which is for one labour shortages.

I think they have the right idea myself.

jad n rich

Agree, Nothing wrong with growth.

However Australias method of classing people as "employed" once they work 2 hours a week:, does not give a realistic picture of the amount of work available nor the amount of workers needed.

Rudds comment about flooding the market with workers to keep a lid on wages I think is the real motive. But thats my opinion based on being one industry reported to have a skills shortage yet its quite obvious there are already a surplus of workers.

Brisben

All valied, however look at the way UK goverment class unemlpoyed, they move them all into different catagories like jobseekers, disbality benefit system etc, this skews unemployment figures also.

You can get into analysis for paralysis syndrome if you are not carefull.

Keeping a lid on wages is a good thing for the country from the goverments perspective as it helps keep the country competitive in a global market.

Not good for employees, but good for employers and global growth which let's be honets is the prime objectiive.