05 October 2007

High wages for tradespeople with Australian visas

Australia's skills shortages are continuing to push up the already high costs of trades labour, according to research company HomeSource. Skilled electricians and plumbers with an Australian visa can expect a healthy income as they establish their new life in Australia.

"A recent government report showed a 0.5 per cent rise in trade vacancies over the past 12 months, with vacancies for electrical and electronics trades rising 7.7 per cent," said HomeSource managing director Pia Vogel.

"These skill shortages are driving up the costs of labour, with a 1.1 per cent rise in the cost of contracting electricians in the year to March and a 4.3 per cent rise overall for the 13 trades monitored in the HIA-Austral Bricks Trades Report," she added.

Many trades are on the Australian Migration Occupations in Demand List (the Australian MODL), which means they may be eligible for extra points when they apply for an Australian visa.

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