News
One of the most important standards the Government of Australia uses to assess Skilled visa applications will change dramatically in December to reflect the changing demands of the country’s economy and decouple much of the visa approval process from New Zealand.
The ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations), a list of occupations which Australia’s Department of Home Affairs deem the most in-demand and therefore a good way for migrants to secure a skilled visa and stay in the country, will become the OSCA (Occupation Standard Classification for Australia) on December 6.
The new standard is claimed to deliver greater flexibility when it comes to how the Department decides which occupations make it onto the list. The Department said changes to the code will also allow greater flexibility and streamline the application process due to clearer definitions of how occupations are classified.
The Department also said the revamp will make it easier for employers who wish to take on and sponsor a migrant to fill a job to find the right applicant through more precise classifications. The labour markets in Australia and New Zealand have diverged significantly since ANZSCO was adopted in 2006 with 56 out of 1,076 occupations now exhibiting differing skill levels between the two countries.
The fate of other joint classifications between Australia and New Zealand, ANZSIC, the ANZSOC and the ANZSRC remains unclear but Australian Statistician Dr David Gruen said the benefits of joint management of the list was no longer “compelling” thanks to increased differences in the two countries’ labour markets.
“Joint management of the occupation classification has served both countries well,” Gruen said.
“Updating the occupation classification to reflect the contemporary Australian labour market is important, as is ensuring that Trans-Tasman comparisons can continue.”