18 May 2006

Study highlights skilled migration benefits

A Productivity Commission report has found that increasing Australia's skilled migration intake would make a positive contribution to the economy, according to The Australian newspaper

The report says the effect of increased skilled migration on living standards in Australia would be positive.

But Commissioner Judith Sloan says there would be a minor impact on wages in some professions.

"What happens, which I guess is to be expected, is that if you bring in more skilled workers what happens is that there's a slight reduction in the rate of growth of those workers who compete with the skilled workers," she said.

The report also says Australia's tax system contains impediments to attracting and retaining skilled migrants.

Earlier this month, Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone froze the intake of skilled migrants for the next year at just over 97,000.

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