WA Expands Occupations Available to Visa Holders

Western Australia has changed its employment rules to allow visa holders to work in a broader range of occupations, including cleaning and gardening roles that the state government has identified as persistently hard to fill. The change was reported by The West Australian on 24 June 2026.

This development reflects a growing recognition by WA authorities that certain lower-skilled occupations cannot be filled by the domestic workforce alone. By opening these roles to visa holders, the state is responding to documented labour shortages in essential services and property maintenance sectors.

What Has Changed

Previously, visa holders in Western Australia faced restrictions on the categories of work they could undertake, particularly in roles considered lower-skilled or outside designated shortage lists. Under the updated rules, roles such as commercial and residential cleaning, grounds maintenance, and gardening are now accessible to eligible visa holders.

The state government's decision to categorise these roles as hard to fill is significant. It signals that standard domestic recruitment efforts have been insufficient, and that formal policy intervention is required to maintain workforce supply in these sectors.

Which Visa Holders Are Affected

While the full legislative detail has not been publicly released at the time of writing, the change is likely to affect holders of temporary work visas operating under employer-sponsored or state-nominated frameworks. Relevant visa subclasses may include the Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa and the Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visa, particularly where WA nominates or endorses the sponsorship arrangement.

Visa holders already working in Western Australia on existing visas should confirm with their employer and a registered migration lawyer whether their current visa conditions permit work in these newly opened occupations.

What This Means for Employers in WA

Employers in the cleaning and gardening sectors who have struggled to recruit locally now have a clearer pathway to sponsor or engage visa holders for these positions. However, employer sponsorship obligations remain in force. Sponsors must continue to meet market salary rate requirements, labour market testing obligations (where applicable), and ongoing reporting duties to the Department of Home Affairs.

Employers should not assume that the expansion of eligible occupations removes their compliance obligations. Engaging a visa holder without the correct sponsorship approvals in place remains a breach of migration law.

Broader Context: WA Labour Shortages

Western Australia has experienced sustained labour market tightness across multiple industries, driven by the resources sector, post-pandemic workforce changes, and population growth in the Perth metropolitan area. The expansion of visa-eligible occupations into cleaning and gardening reflects a pragmatic state-level response to fill critical service gaps.

This move also aligns with the Federal Government's broader push to ensure that regional and state-level occupation lists remain responsive to real-time labour market conditions.

Key Takeaways

• Western Australia has expanded the occupations visa holders can work in, now including cleaning and gardening roles.
• These roles have been formally identified as hard to fill through domestic recruitment.
• Relevant visa subclasses may include the Subclass 482 and Subclass 494 visas.
• Employers must still meet all sponsorship and compliance obligations under migration law.
• Visa holders should confirm their visa conditions permit work in the newly opened occupations before commencing employment.
• A registered migration lawyer can advise on whether your specific visa and circumstances allow you to take up these roles.

The content of this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and subject to change. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a registered Australian migration lawyer. For full terms governing use of this website and its content, please refer to our Website Terms and Conditions.

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