EMPLOYMENT mce-anchor OVERVIEWMigrants who had obtained Australian citizenship since arrival were more likely to be employed (73%) than other recent migrants (64%) or temporary residents (63%). Of those who were employed, 75% of recent migrants with a permanent visa and 77% of those with Australian citizenship were employed full time compared with 57% of temporary residents. In all cases males were more likely to be employed full time than females: 90% of male migrants with Australian citizenship were employed full time compared with 63% of females; 83% of males on a permanent visa were employed full time compared with 64% of females; and 62% of male temporary residents were employed full time compared with 50% of females. Temporary residents on student visas were less likely to be employed than other temporary residents (55% compared with 73%) (Table 2).UNEMPLOYMENT RATEThe unemployment rate for recent migrants and temporary residents combined was 7%, compared with 5% for people born in Australia. Migrants with Australian citizenship had an unemployment rate of 7%. Temporary residents had a lower unemployment rate (5%) than recent migrants on a permanent visa (9%) (Table 2).
mce-anchorUnemployment rate, By residency type as at November 2010 and sex
The unemployment rate for migrants born in main English-speaking countries was lower than for migrants born in other countries (5% compared with 8%). Also, migrants who had obtained a non-school qualification before arrival had a lower unemployment rate than those who had not (6% and 10% respectively) (Table 3).LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATEMigrants who had obtained Australian citizenship since arrival had a higher labour force participation rate (79%) than other recent migrants (71%) and temporary residents (66%). In all cases, males had a higher labour force participation rate than females: 88% for male migrants with Australian citizenship compared with 70% for females; 88% for males on a permanent visa compared with 57% for females; and 74% for male temporary residents compared with 58% of females. For males and females born in Australia, the participation rate was 75% and 63% respectively (Table 2).
mce-anchorLABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, By residency type as at November 2010 and sex
Labour force participation rates were higher for recent migrants and temporary residents born in main English-speaking countries (84%) than other countries (67%) and higher for those who had obtained a non-school qualification before arrival than for those who had not (78% and 59% respectively) (Table 3).FINDING EMPLOYMENTSome 10% of recent migrants who have had a job in Australia arrived with their first job already arranged while 43% spent three months or less looking for their first job (Table 15).An estimated 44% of recent migrants who have had a job since arrival received some form of help finding their first job. Of these people:
68% received help from family or friends;
25% from Centrelink or a Job Network agency;
7% from an educational institution;
6% from a migrant association or refugee settlement organisation;
3% from a church or community group (Table 14).
About one third (35%) of recent migrants reported experiencing some difficulty finding their first job in Australia. Of the migrants who experienced difficulty:
64% reported a lack of Australian work experience or references;
33% experienced language difficulties;
23% reported a lack of local contacts or networks;
15% said there were no jobs in their locality, line of work or at all;
15% had difficulty with their skills or qualifications not being recognised;
8% said they did not know how or where to apply for jobs;
7% had restrictions due to their visa type;
7% had difficulties with transport or had no driver's licence (Table 14).
SKILLED MIGRANTSAn estimated 90% of migrants with a skilled visa at November 2010 who were the main applicant were in the labour force and 87% were currently employed. Of those who nominated an occupation for their current visa, 53% were currently employed in the same occupation group as the one they nominated (Table 17).Some 88% of skilled migrants had obtained a non-school qualification before arrival and 61% of them had used their qualification in their current job. Of those who had not used their qualifications, 38% had tried to find work more suited to their qualifications (Table 17).This page last updated 27 June 2014
Quality Declaration Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/05/2011
EMPLOYMENT mce-anchor OVERVIEWMigrants who had obtained Australian citizenship since arrival were more likely to be employed (73%) than other recent migrants (64%) or temporary residents (63%). Of those who were employed, 75% of recent migrants with a permanent visa and 77% of those with Australian citizenship were employed full time compared with 57% of temporary residents. In all cases males were more likely to be employed full time than females: 90% of male migrants with Australian citizenship were employed full time compared with 63% of females; 83% of males on a permanent visa were employed full time compared with 64% of females; and 62% of male temporary residents were employed full time compared with 50% of females. Temporary residents on student visas were less likely to be employed than other temporary residents (55% compared with 73%) (Table 2).UNEMPLOYMENT RATEThe unemployment rate for recent migrants and temporary residents combined was 7%, compared with 5% for people born in Australia. Migrants with Australian citizenship had an unemployment rate of 7%. Temporary residents had a lower unemployment rate (5%) than recent migrants on a permanent visa (9%) (Table 2).
mce-anchorUnemployment rate, By residency type as at November 2010 and sexThe unemployment rate for migrants born in main English-speaking countries was lower than for migrants born in other countries (5% compared with 8%). Also, migrants who had obtained a non-school qualification before arrival had a lower unemployment rate than those who had not (6% and 10% respectively) (Table 3).LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATEMigrants who had obtained Australian citizenship since arrival had a higher labour force participation rate (79%) than other recent migrants (71%) and temporary residents (66%). In all cases, males had a higher labour force participation rate than females: 88% for male migrants with Australian citizenship compared with 70% for females; 88% for males on a permanent visa compared with 57% for females; and 74% for male temporary residents compared with 58% of females. For males and females born in Australia, the participation rate was 75% and 63% respectively (Table 2).
mce-anchorLABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, By residency type as at November 2010 and sexLabour force participation rates were higher for recent migrants and temporary residents born in main English-speaking countries (84%) than other countries (67%) and higher for those who had obtained a non-school qualification before arrival than for those who had not (78% and 59% respectively) (Table 3).FINDING EMPLOYMENTSome 10% of recent migrants who have had a job in Australia arrived with their first job already arranged while 43% spent three months or less looking for their first job (Table 15).An estimated 44% of recent migrants who have had a job since arrival received some form of help finding their first job. Of these people:
