03 January 2008

Opportunities for immigration in Australia's high flying manufacturing sector

High domestic demand drove Australia's manufacturing industry to its best results in four years, a December survey reveals. Skills shortages and the rising cost of raw materials are challenges to raising productivity but the report indicates that opportunities for workers with Australian visas are bright.

The Australian Industry Group - PricewaterhouseCoopers Performance of Manufacturing Index for December jumped 3.8 points to 57.6. A ranking above 50 indicates the industry is expanding and this is the 19th consecutive result above this key level. The report shows that input costs increased but selling price growth also moved higher. Wages growth fell slightly and capacity utilisation was up.

CommSec equities economist Martin Arnold told the Herald Sun that solid growth in new orders means the outlook for the manufacturing sector is bright. Heather Ridout, chief executive for Ai Group pointed to the strong domestic economy in Australia underlying the resilience of the manufacturing sector.

Anyone applying for an Australia skilled visa should begin by completing the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa application to see if they meet the Australian visa requirements.


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