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Tackling shortages THE Canberra Government has attracted more than 360 skilled workers from overseas over the past year to help tackle the local effects of the national skills shortage.Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the Skilled and Business Migration Programme has certified 178 new employer-sponsored skilled workers, most of whom were attracted to jobs in the ICT, academic, health and hospitality sectors. "Importantly these 178 new workers who contribute a total salary of around $9.6 million to our economy also brought 214 dependants with them, partners and children who are becoming part of the Canberra community. "Additionally a further 183 skilled migrants have been sponsored to migrate to Canberra under the State and Territory Nominated Independent (or STNI) visa sponsorship programme. These migrants will also bring much needed skills into the ACT, including in ICT, construction, engineering, social work and printing. "These migrants will be accompanied by 275 dependents and will transfer $20.1 million into the ACT for settlement purposes. "To date, 20 STNI sponsored migrants have had their visas granted by the Commonwealth and are expected to arrive in Canberra by the end of the year. The top four countries of origin are India, the United Kingdom, Korea and Bangladesh. "Once migrants arrive, they are assisted to settle into their new home town. In the last month the ACT Government has welcomed seven STNI sponsored families to Canberra - from Finland, the UK and the USA. They have all quickly found employment in the ICT and printing and communication industries and are settling in well. "This Programme is an important part of the ACT Government's efforts to address the local effects of the national skills shortage and compliments the Live in Canberra campaign which is designed to attract skilled workers from other parts of Australia to the Territory," Mr Stanhope said. Since July 2006 the ACT Government has sponsored 881 people to live and work in the ACT. |
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