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Responses provided by Director, SkillSelect:
To provide some background information on occupational ceilings, I confirm that they were introduced on 1 July 2012 as part of the package of reform of Australia’s skilled migration program, which included the introduction of SkillSelect, the creation of new visa subclasses and changes to visa processing systems to provide for e-lodgement of all applications. Occupational ceilings were designed to limit the number of invitations issued via SkillSelect for each occupational group in the general skilled migration program. They are intended to ensure that the program is not dominated by a narrow range of occupations which could potentially crowd out local job seekers in these areas.
Once an occupational ceiling has been reached, no further invitations for that occupation can be issued for the remainder of the program year. However, occupational ceilings do not apply to employer sponsored visas so specific skill shortages can still be filled through the employer sponsored program, even if the relevant ceiling has been reached. Occupational ceilings are set based upon advice from the Australia Workforce Productivity Agency (AWPA) and other Federal agencies such as Treasury and DEEWR. The ceilings are set at six per cent of the stock number of workers in each occupational group, representing the average figure for replacement demand (that is, replacing workers who have left the workforce) and new job growth.
In 2012-13, the following six occupational groups reached their occupational ceilings which meant no intending migrants in occupations in these groups could be nominated or invited to apply for a visa until the ceilings were reset on 1 July 2013:
Occupational Group
ANZSCO Code
Chemical & Material Engineers
2331
ICT Business & System Analysts
2611
Electronics Engineers
2334
Telecomm Engineering Professionals
2633
Other Engineering Professionals
2339
Software and Applications Programmers
2613
In the first month of the 2013-14 program year, a significant proportion of available places were again used up for these six occupational groups and it was determined that the ceilings would again be met, but even earlier than in the previous program year. Based on the high numbers of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) being submitted for these occupational groups, the decision was therefore made to move to a pro rata allocation of the remaining places to allow limited numbers of the most highly skilled workers in these occupations to apply for a visa throughout 2013-14. In discussions with states and territories, they have suggested alternative approaches in order to allow state and territory nominations for these occupations as well as invitations for skilled independent migrants and we are currently working with them to develop an acceptable solution which will allow both independent skilled and state and territory nominated migrants from these occupational groups for the remainder of the 2013?14 program year.
I would emphasise that there will be no change to the total number of places available for these six occupational groups under their occupational ceilings. The focus is on ensuring that the limited remaining places in these occupational groups are not exhausted early in the year. The situation outlined in the email below (ie: having no one from these occupational groups being able to be invited for 11 months) is exactly what we have been trying to avoid and if the current limitations had not been introduced by DIAC, some occupational ceilings would have already been reached and the others would be very close to being reached. When the new arrangement with the states and territories is finalised, it will be announced in the updated invitation round report on the SkillSelect website (www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/) and information about the specific cut off points scores for these occupational groups under the new arrangements will also be included in this report.
Kind regards,
Grace Turner
Secretariat
NSW Client Reference Group
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
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