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RECORD SKILLED MIGRANTS

A RECORD number of skilled migrants settled in Australia during 2004-2005, according to the Minister for Immigration, Senator Amanda Vanstone.

"The 77 880 skill stream migrants in 2004-05 account for about 65 per cent of the total programme. At 120 060, the overall Migration (non-Humanitarian) Programme was the largest since the late 1980s," Senator Vanstone said.

"The Government's focus on skilled migration continues to benefit Australia's economy, while it maintained a sizeable level of family reunion," she said.

Improved targeting in the Skill Stream has resulted in increases over the previous year's numbers of doctors (294 per cent), nurses (40 per cent), accountants (48 per cent) and tradespersons (38 per cent) such as mechanical, electrical, construction and automotive tradespersons.

Not only was the number of migrants sponsored by employers and by State and Territory Governments the largest ever, the number of skilled migrants choosing to live and work in Australia's regional areas also reached an all time high.

About 18,700 visas were granted under the State Specific and Regional Migration (SSRM) mechanisms in 2004-05, almost a 50 percent increase on 2003-04.

"These migrants are playing a vital role in helping to address the critical skill shortages felt by employers in local communities across Australia.

"The number of overseas students migrating to Australia directly after completing their studies was also the largest ever, with some 16,490 visas granted in 2004-05," the Minister said.

In April, Senator Vanstone announced the 2005-06 Migration (non-Humanitarian) Program would be between 130,000 and 140,000, and a Skill Stream of around 97,500 - exceeding the 2004-05 record by around 20,000.

"To assist employers to benefit from this increase, my department will work in partnership with industry and State/Territory governments to take advantage of employer sponsored and State sponsored migration, particularly in areas of critical skills shortage in Australia such as engineering and the traditional trades," she said.