Barely one-third of international students who stay in 撸撸视频 after they graduate can find jobs in the fields for which they have trained, a new report suggests.
An analysis of recent census data has found that just 28 per cent of foreign-born degree holders who arrived in 撸撸视频 after 2010 are working as professionals, with another 6 per cent employed as managers.
Thirty-four per cent are in lower-level jobs, with another 31 per cent unemployed or not looking for work.
These figures contrast sharply with the experience of 撸撸视频n-born graduates, of whom 58 per cent work as professionals and another 10 per cent as managers. Just 22 per cent are in lower-level jobs, with 9 per cent out of work.
The statistics are contained in a by former Monash University demographer Bob Birrell, a long-time critic of 撸撸视频’s skilled migration programme. He estimated that between 30 and 40 per cent of the foreign degree holders were international students who had graduated in 撸撸视频.
The figures suggested that most international graduates making use of 撸撸视频’s work rights entitlements, hoping to entrench their skills and enrich their CVs, were ending up disappointed. “They’re having a really hard time getting professional employment, for obvious reasons,” said Dr Birrell, who now heads the independent 撸撸视频n Population Research Institute.
“There’s so many trying to enter those labour markets that they invariably go to the back of the queue because of lack of English skills and relevant experience.”
He said the government had protected 撸撸视频’s international education industry by offering graduate work rights comparable with those of Canada, particularly in disciplines favoured by international students like accountancy, engineering and information technology.
But recent Department of Employment reports showed that there was little shortage of locals skilled in these disciplines because of a surge in domestic graduates under 撸撸视频’s uncapped higher education system.
However, the Migration Institute of 撸撸视频 said permanent residence was still a “great motivator” for many overseas students. National president Kevin Lane said people from some countries were attracted by 撸撸视频’s “better lifestyle”, even if it meant abandoning their chosen careers.
“They can have a great deal of trouble getting jobs,” he said. “It’s not necessarily that their English is poor – it could be that some employers don’t feel comfortable with their accents.”
Dr Birrell’s report is entitled 撸撸视频’s skilled migration programme: scarce skills not required. It contends that skilled migration in 撸撸视频 is driven by businesses and bureaucracies that want population growth, and that the supposed purpose – furnishing 撸撸视频 with skills it lacks – has no substance.
The report argues that any substance was “eliminated” by 2016 policy changes which switched the emphasis from occupations currently facing shortages to those that “might” encounter them in the next two to 10 years.
