Refocusing the migration debate on the workplace

Migration is as much a conversation of workforce reality as it is about population, one immigration specialist has explained.

According to The Employee Mobility Institute (TEMi), balance and perspective are missing from Australian conversations around migration.

As the conversation becomes increasingly polarised, the workforce management body said that migration should be viewed as part of national workforce strategy consideration, and a positive one that enhances a range of sectors, including healthcare, construction and agriculture, hospitality, education and technology.

Jamie Lingham of TEMi’s Immigration Advisory Group said: “If Australia is serious about building the workforce capability required to support economic growth, skilled and employer-sponsored migration must also be treated as a strategic priority.”

“Foreign nationals are not simply filling occupations deemed ‘critical’, they are working across thousands of roles that keep businesses operating, projects moving, services running and Australia’s economy growing.”

Lingham said investment in education, apprenticeships, workforce participation, productivity, and skills development must be considered alongside migration as part of a broad evaluation of Australia’s workforce.

“A well-managed migration program complements investment in Australian workers and local skills; it does not replace it,” he said.

Findings from a recent national employer survey from TEMi revealed that more than three-quarters of employers are forced to recruit from overseas because of local skills deficiencies, and over 80 per cent agree that internationally sourced staff are important or essential for business operations.

In this way, Lingham said the conversation must consider the opportunities and challenges that migration poses, acknowledging the strain of population growth on housing and resourcing.

“These are legitimate issues, and they deserve thoughtful discussion, but when the conversation becomes dominated by one perspective, we risk overlooking the people behind the headlines and the contribution they make every day,” he said.

“We can support Australian workers, invest in local skills, maintain a migration system with integrity and continue to welcome talented people who contribute to our economy and communities. These are not competing ideas, rather they are the foundations of a confident, successful and outward-looking Australia.

“Organisations are responding to demographic change, persistent skill gaps and increasing global competition for talent.”

Almost 100 per cent of employers believe they will continue to rely on employer-sponsored migration to remain steady or increase over the next few years. According to Lingham, this reflects workforce requirements and a response to an ageing population, historically low birth rates and ongoing skills and talent shortages.

“The decisions Australia makes today will influence workforce capability and economic competitiveness for decades to come,” he said.

In a joint statement on 19 August, a coalition of 10 bodies called for a National Migration Summit to strengthen public confidence and form a long-term migration plan.

The proposed summit would assemble government, business, unions, researchers, economists, and experts to achieve this.

The statement was endorsed by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA), Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA), Migration Institute of Australia, Minerals Council of Australia, Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), Regional Australia Institute, Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA), Settlement Services International (SSI) and Tech Council of Australia.

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