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Are You Affected by the Australian Skills Occupation List Change?

As June 2011 figures show, there is a surge closer to full employment with negative growth in Australian Unemployment Rate of 4.9% and a similar trend for Queensland with a decreasing Unemployment Rates of 5.2% (www.abs.gov.au).  Businesses continue to face an ever growing challenge of Industry/occupation skilled shortage within an already competitive employment market.  The Australian Government has implemented new changes to the Australian Skills Occupation List (SOL) to provide relief for many local businesses struggling with skilled shortage.

These changes have taken effect as of the 1st of July 2011 and apply only to Skilled Implemented Visas, with the following occupations removed from the SOL.

  • Optometrist;
  • Orthoptist;
  • Panel Beater; and
  • Vehicle Painter.

The following occupations were added to the SOL:

  • Physicist;
  • Environmental Health Officer;
  • Occupational Health and Safety Adviser;
  • Hospital Pharmacists;
  • Retail Pharmacists;
  • Barrister;
  • Solicitor;
  • Fitter (General);
  • Fitter and Turner;
  • Fitter-Welder;
  • Metal Machinist (First Class);
  • Boat Builder and Repairer; and
  • Shipwright.
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