State taps international student market and holiday makers
The Western Australian government has announced it will add extra slots to its Graduate Occupation List to tap into the international student market, among other measures, to address the state’s skills shortage.
It also plans to boost the seasonal workforce at its tourism destinations and regional locations through a more efficient holiday maker program. Both initiatives offer significant potential benefits for businesses and employers in the state.
Graduate Occupation List
The WA government reportedly added 194 occupations, bringing the total number of listed occupations to 331, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA) said in a media release.
“Meeting Western Australia’s skilled workforce needs is a priority to support the state’s strong economic growth and pipeline of works,” Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery said in a statement.
“[WA] is committed to encouraging the return of international students to support our international education sector and address skills shortages in key industries,” Ellery added.
The skilled migration pathway could also open doors for international students in WA as they would have an option to apply for permanent residence. The state further announced that it had expanded its skilled migration criteria to allow offshore candidates to apply for WA State nomination.
Holiday makers
The WA government is also strengthening its “stay and play” approach for working holiday makers from overseas and interstate to boost its seasonal workforce at famous tourism destinations.
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It plans to promote campaigns in Europe and Asia that would feature flight offers, incentives and working holiday maker packages.
According to CCIWA, in 2019, the state welcomed 51,000 working holiday makers who spent $234 million in the state and the government hopes to recreate or even surpass that benchmark this year.