Australia is short of construction workers, yet qualified and experienced migrants are far more likely to be unemployed or underemployed than workers born in Australia.
The shift from family migration towards skilled migrants changed settlement patterns in the first two decades of this century. But these skilled migrants still get paid less than non-migrants.
For immigrants to be a panacea for our demographic and economic challenges, they must be able to find skills-appropriate employment and settle into communities.
As Canada plans to welcome 500,000 new permanent residents a year by 2025, the government must make changes to make the immigration system more fair and transparent.
Australia’s debates about migration tend to focus too much on numbers, and not enough on who we choose. Accepting 30,000 more skilled permanent workers is a good move – but there’s more to be done.
Having international students in Australia gives us a head start in the global race to attract skilled migrants. COVID border closures that halved their numbers could have very long-term costs.
One of the major paradoxes that skilled migrants face is that despite gaining entry into a host country based on their credentials, that doesn’t guarantee success in the local labour market.
While skilled migration can help fill short-term gaps, Australia needs a more sustainable, long-term approach to skills matching and development to make the most of the people who are already here.
Australia used to prioritise family migrants over skilled workers. But now, it takes up to 21 months for partner visas to be approved – and 30 years for parents.
A resent research survey found assimilation can not only help migrants be happy in the short term, but it can help combat social isolation in their old age.
Australia has had a large influx of skilled migrants in recent decades. Better educated and more highly paid than past generations of migrants, they are also creating a different sort of community.
Many US voters appear to believe that deporting illegal immigrants would boost job opportunities and wages for US workers. But economic modelling suggests different conclusions.
There is a powerful African- born diaspora in North America and its members have much to offer their home continent. How should this relationship be crafted?
The problem with auctioning immigration places is that it puts the focus on short-term revenue-raising, rather than immigration’s more important medium- to long-term nation-building role.