Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
A new priority skills list (PMSOL) has been announced by the Australian government aimed at targeting applicants and existing sponsored visa holders in the health care, construction, and IT sectors to fill urgent skills needs and to help create Australian jobs and rebuild Australia’s economy. Applicants and visa holders can request an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions but will be subject to a strict 14 days quarantine on arrival at their own expense.
Employer-sponsored applicants in the following visa classes will benefit from priority processing:
• Temporary Skill Shortage visa – subclass 482
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa – subclass 494
• Employer Nomination Scheme visa – subclass 186
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme - subclass 187
Stricter labour market testing has also been introduced requiring employers to advertise their vacancy on the Government’s job active website, in addition to the current requirements of placing 2 national advertisements.
Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the changes would strike the right balance for Australia’s economic recovery. “Our priority is getting Australians back into work, but we also need key health workers to help fight the virus and skilled migrants who are going to be job multipliers, to help the economy recover,” Mr Tudge said.
As COVID-19 continues to play out both in Australia and overseas labour market trends will be monitored and reviewed regularly and although existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, priority will be given to those in occupations on the PMSOL.
The 17 occupations are:
• Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)
• Construction Project Manager (133111)
• Mechanical Engineer (233512)
• General Practitioner (253111)
• Resident Medical Officer (253112)
• Psychiatrist (253411)
• Medical Practitioner nec (253999)
• Midwife (254111)
• Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
• Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
• Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
• Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
• Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
• Registered Nurses nec (254499)
• Developer Programmer (261312)
• Software Engineer (261313)
• Maintenance Planner (312911)