Jobs & Money Detail
Skilled workers in demand
British electricians, plumbers, mining engineers, and a host of other skilled trades are wanted desperately in Australia to fill a skills shortage crisis all over the country
So says Mary Ann Day, of immigration law firm Justin Rickard & Associates.
While many thousands of Brits flock Down Under each year, drawn by the lifestyle and endless sunshine, it is still not enough to fill the serious crisis which Australia is facing in finding skilled labour for its growing economy. The Australian government has noted an "alarmingly high rate" of withdrawals from apprenticeships by Australian citizens, a factor put as one reason for the country's critical skills shortage.
A New South Wales Parliamentary report found that low wages, the length of training required and the stigma attached to trades were identified as contributing factors to the low take-up and completion rate of apprenticeships. Figures in the report showed that although 17,600 apprentices began their training in 2005, just 5,800 became trade-qualified.
Britons can now seriously consider migrating Down Under and immediately contributing their skill to the Australian workforce."These skills are very highly valued in Australia and many jobs can command very generous salaries," Immigration lawyer Justin Rickard explained. The core age of most skilled migrants is between 25 and 45, but the demand is there for a broad age band.
A Mining Engineer working in Western Australia or Northern Queensland, could earn around a minimum of £70,000. The typical work shifts are four weeks on and two weeks off, meaning spare time can be spent surfing on the Gold Coast or off the blue seas of Perth.
Property in the Northern Queensland area makes it easier for tradespeople relocating to regional areas, in some areas properties are on sale for the equivalent of £160,000.
Electricians and plumbers,are also beginning to command high salaries, often in the region of £40,000 to £60,000. Rickard says, "With Australia desperately short of skilled workers such as engineers, welders, boilermakers, joiners, and bricklayers – to name but a few – skilled migrants add a vital resource to the country's economy. "If we can make it as easy as possible for them to get a visa and contribute quickly to the Australian labour force, we have gone a step towards helping Britons to migrate and at the same time boost the Australian economy."
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