Australia urgently needs more homes, electricians, plumbers and construction workers. Yet recent media reports have raised questions about why many trade occupations appear to sit in the same skilled migration priority tier as economists, actors and animal trainers.

The debate has attracted attention across the construction and migration sectors, particularly as Australia works towards its national target of building 1.2 million new homes between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2029.

However, the way occupation priorities affect skilled migration is more complicated than a single list determining who receives a visa first.

Is There a Skilled Migration Priority Occupation List?

Australia does not currently operate one public, universal “Skilled Migration Priority Occupation List” that determines invitation scores and processing times across all skilled visa subclasses.

The former Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List, commonly known as the PMSOL, stopped operating in October 2022.

Today, several separate systems may affect a skilled migrant’s prospects, including:

• SkillSelect invitation rounds
• Occupation ceilings and invitation allocations
• Skilled visa processing priorities
• State and territory nomination occupation lists
• Individual state selection criteria
• Labour market and workforce planning data

These mechanisms do not all work in the same way.

SkillSelect invitations determine whether a person may be invited to apply for certain points-tested visas. Visa processing priorities, on the other hand, generally apply after a valid visa application has already been lodged.

The Controversy: Tradies in the Same Tier as Economists

Recent media reporting has highlighted a four-tier occupation framework reportedly used in the management of parts of Australia’s skilled migration program.

Under the reported framework, a range of construction-related occupations, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, tilers and construction managers, sit within the same third tier as occupations such as economists, actors and animal trainers.

The concern is not necessarily that economists are ranked above tradies. Rather, critics question why workers who are directly involved in housing construction are not receiving greater priority during a national housing shortage.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth was questioned about the arrangement during a media interview. She referred to expert advice and the broader methodology behind the occupational settings, while also acknowledging that Australia needs more skilled workers.

The issue has added to calls for greater transparency around how migration priorities are determined.

Why Occupation Settings Matter

A person’s nominated occupation can have a major impact on their skilled migration options.

For the Skilled Independent visa, Subclass 189, invitations are generally issued according to factors including:

• The applicant’s points score
• The occupation selected
• The number of places available
• The number and quality of competing Expressions of Interest
• Settings used in the relevant invitation round

Applicants with the same points score may also be ranked according to the date their Expression of Interest reached that score.

An occupation does not automatically give an applicant extra migration points. However, some occupations may receive more invitations or be invited at lower points thresholds than others during a particular round.

This means a high points score does not always guarantee an invitation. Some occupations may receive limited invitations, while others may receive none in a particular round.

What About Subclass 190 and 491 Visas?

State and territory nomination programs operate separately from the federal Subclass 189 invitation program.

Each jurisdiction can apply its own:

• Occupation list
• Industry priorities
• Work experience requirements
• Residency requirements
• English language standards
• Income requirements
• Ranking or registration process

An occupation that receives few invitations under Subclass 189 may still be available through a Subclass 190 or state-nominated Subclass 491 pathway.

However, availability in one state does not mean the occupation will be open or prioritised everywhere.

Applicants should check the current requirements of each relevant jurisdiction rather than relying only on general SkillSelect invitation results.

The Broader Policy Debate

The controversy raises a wider question about whether Australia’s migration settings are aligned with its most urgent workforce needs.

Jobs and Skills Australia regularly publishes labour market and occupation shortage data. Trade occupations have consistently appeared among areas experiencing recruitment difficulty, particularly in construction, electrical work and plumbing.

Industry groups argue that migration settings should respond more directly to factors such as:

• Verified workforce shortages
• Job vacancy rates
• Infrastructure and housing demand
• Wage growth
• Training completion rates
• The time required to qualify Australian workers

At the same time, migration policy cannot be based on vacancy numbers alone. Governments must also consider long-term workforce planning, domestic training capacity, regional needs and the risk of oversupplying particular occupations.

The current debate is therefore not simply about whether tradies are valuable. It is about whether the migration system is prioritising the right workers at the right time.

What Skilled Migrants Should Do Now

Skilled migrants should avoid making decisions based only on headlines about occupation tiers.

Instead, consider the following steps.

Check Your Current Occupation Options

Review whether your occupation is eligible for the Subclass 189, 190 or 491 visa and whether it appears on any relevant state or territory nomination list.

Occupation availability and nomination criteria can change during the program year.

Review More Than One Pathway

Waiting indefinitely for a Subclass 189 invitation may not be the strongest strategy.

Depending on your circumstances, alternatives may include:

• Subclass 190 state nomination
• Subclass 491 regional nomination
• Employer-sponsored visas
• Regional employment pathways
• Further eligible work experience
• Improving English results
• Partner points or other lawful points options

Keep Your EOI Accurate and Updated

Submitting an EOI early may help where applicants have equal points, but points and eligibility remain more important than submission date alone.

Update your EOI whenever your circumstances change, including when you:

• Achieve a higher English score
• Complete additional skilled work experience
• Receive a new skills assessment
• Change your relationship status
• Become eligible for additional points

Do not claim points until you genuinely meet the relevant requirements.

Check Your Skills Assessment

A valid skills assessment is generally essential for points-tested skilled migration.

Tradies may face detailed evidence requirements involving qualifications, employment records, licensing and practical competency. Processing can take time, so it is important to understand the relevant assessing authority’s requirements early.

Receiving a skills assessment does not lock in future migration rules, but it may place you in a better position to respond when nomination or invitation opportunities arise.

Watch Your Age and Document Expiry Dates

Applicants should monitor when age-related points may decrease, particularly as they approach key age thresholds.

English test results, skills assessments and other supporting documents may also have validity requirements. An EOI should not be treated as something that can simply be lodged and forgotten.

Key Takeaways

Australia does not currently have one universal priority occupation list controlling every skilled migration outcome.

Recent reporting suggests that many construction trades sit in the same migration tier as economists and several unrelated occupations, rather than being placed below economists.

The controversy reflects growing concern about whether migration settings are properly aligned with Australia’s housing and construction workforce needs.

Occupation settings may affect invitation opportunities, but they do not automatically increase an applicant’s migration points.

Subclass 189, 190 and 491 pathways operate under different invitation and nomination arrangements.

For skilled migrants, the strongest approach is usually to assess multiple pathways, keep documents current and avoid relying on a single future invitation round.

Migration settings can change quickly. Before making decisions about an EOI, skills assessment or visa pathway, obtain advice based on your occupation, points score, location and long-term plans.

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.

Speak with a Riverwood Migration Lawyer

For skilled migration and skills assessment matters, we recommend speaking with Scott Gan, our lawyer specialising in points-tested visas and occupation skills assessments. Book a consultation to discuss your circumstances.

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