The Financial Services Institute of Australia (Finsia) has conducted research which shows Australia’s finance sector is the next industry to suffer large labour shortages.  The research blames a drop-off in women working in the industry (a 3% drop) and the beginnings of the loss of baby boomers, who are now retiring.  Finsia’s Chief Executive,  Martin Fahy, pointed out that, “We’ll start to see an acceleration of that trend where there are more people leaving the workforce than entering the workforce, and that’s going to be a real challenge.”

Australia is placing itself to become one of the world’s largest financial centres, however Mr Fahy suggests that this potential is being threatened by labour shortages. 

There are many skilled finance jobs to be had in Australia, as well as vacancies in other skilled areas, click here to see the latest Migration Occupations in Demand List.

Australia’s Housing Industry Association estimates that the country is going to need 1 million new homes within the next five years to cope with the extraordinarily high levels of immigration that the country is currently experiencing.  This is 40% more than the current annual production rate. 

Victoria’s HIA executive director, Robert Harding, told the Melbourne Herald, “We are not able to build to meet the demand of the present time, let alone the future demand the migration program is producing. We have spoken to the Government about a more targeted skills program, especially in relation to the building trades.”

Australia urgently needs skilled construction workers and engineers to develop the housing and infrastructure necessary to keep pace with the current economic and immigration booms.  If you have building skills, why not take them to sunny Australia, where you will be truly appreciated and rewarded for your efforts.  All your immigration questions can be answered at www.workingin-australia.com.  You have nothing to lose!

Australian Immigration Minister, Senator Chris Evans, yesterday released a discussion paper outlining his plans to make employers of 457 Visa holders more responsible.  Under the scheme’s changes, which are hoped to be implemented in September this year, employers sponsoring overseas temporary workers will face fierce penalties if they don’t uphold their sponsorship obligations.  These could run to $110,000 or 10 years in prison.  The new system will also allow inspectors to search workplaces to ensure things are as they should be.

The Australian government is currently working hard to allow overseas workers into the country to fill gaps in Australia’s labour market.  There are various working visas available to migrants with the right skills and in some cases, where there is a high demand, skilled applicants may find they are awarded extra points towards their visa.  Take a look at www.workingin-australia.com to find the easiest way to access your new life.

The Australian government has introduced tough new penalties for businesses caught hiring illegal workers.  Farmers are being urged to check the credentials of potential employees using internet and fax back services provided by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.  It is now deemed illegal to employ people without the correct working visa and farmers can expect fines of up to $13,200 per employee and/or two years in prison.  Companies face fines of up to $66,000 per illegal employee.

Don’t risk having the wrong paperwork, the chances are you won’t get work.  Visit www.workingin-australia.com to get information on how to get the right visa for your Australian travel needs.

A report entitled ‘Australia’s Health 2008′ conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, has concluded that living in Australia is good for you.  The report says that Australia enjoys one of the best health systems in the world and is experiencing falling rates of heart conditions, strokes, accidents and smoke related illnesses.  Globally, Australia also holds second place to Japan in life terms of life expectancy, with an average life running to 81.4 years.

And if you are reading this with an interest in migrating to Australia, the news only gets better.  Most migrants enjoy health that is as good as, or better than, that of the Australian-born population-often with lower rates of death, hospitalization, disability and disease risk factors.

So what are you waiting for?  Check out www.workingin-australia.com to find information on where in Australia  you want to spend the rest of your long, happy life.

According to the financial agency Citigroup, Australia is desperately in need of skilled engineers.  The country’s infrastructure is in dire need of a spruce up, with an estimated $770 million required spend in the next 10 years.  However, even with the financial resources readily available, Citigroup foresees massive set backs due to the lack of skilled engineers in the country able to do the work.

Citigroups advice to the Australian government is to encourage more people to study engineering and to massively increase overseas recruitment to cover the short fall.  They argue that future potential economic growth depends upon Australia’s infrastructures keeping pace. 

The government recently announced plans to increase its quota of Skilled Migrant Visas by 30,000.  Engineers are needed in the mining sector too, which is also undergoing rapid growth and there are other skills that are in high demand all over the country.  Fancy a new life in Australia?  It might be easier than you think.

Ian Usher, an English migrant presently living in Perth, Western Australia, has his entire life listed on EBay.  The auction includes his house, his boat, his job and even his friends.  Mr Usher emigrated to Australia with his wife, Laura, six years ago but his marriage recently ended.  Heartbroken and surrounded by too many memories of his marriage, Mr Usher decided to flog the lot.

After an opening bid of $1, things soon heated up.  As of today the leading bid is AU $731,900.00, and includes, among other things, a car, a motorbike and parachuting gear - so if you have ever dreamt of starting a new life in Western Australia, take a look!  And visit www.workingin-australia.com to check out how to get an Australian Visa, to make your dreams come true!  Happy bidding!

Senator Chris Evans, Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, has announced a plan to fund assistance for some people who may struggle with the current on-line citizenship test.  The test, which has been criticised for being too difficult for people without a formal education or computer literacy, is a necessary part of the citizenship process.

Chris Evans says AUD$3.4 million will be distributed among communities around Australia who will offer support and assistance to migrants.  “These organisations will offer a range of services to support up to 35,000 people who may have difficulty in undertaking the computer-based citizenship test” he said.

Australia is currently in need of skilled migrants, thanks to its booming economy and is offering more skilled migrant visas than ever before.  Why not look into migrating and creating a new life down under?

Rather surprisingly, one of the most sought after skills listed on Australia’s Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) is landscape gardeners.  A search today of the popular job advertising site www.seek.com.au, reveals nearly 300 landscape gardening jobs on offer.

And it isn’t just the green fingered that are in demand in Australia at present.  The economic boom has generated demand for 105 qualified jobs being highlighted as suffering labour shortages, including architects (5119 jobs listed on Seek), accountants (12924 jobs listed), dentists (363 jobs listed), carpenters (450 jobs listed), motor mechanics (267 jobs listed) and surveyors (1519 jobs listed) .

Prospective migrants who have occupations on this list get extra points towards their visa.  That could mean you.  If you have ever considered migrating to Australia NOW is as good a time as ever.  Visit www.workingin-australia.com to see the full MODL list and to find stacks of other information to help you make the move.

The Geelong based charity, Diversitat, has launched a programme aimed at enhancing migrant’s driving skills in Australia.  The Driving Practice Programme is designed to upskill migrants for Australian roads, particularly those migrants that are used to a different driving system.  The scheme will be available to any Australian Visa holder and will be offered by voluntary instructors.

It has never been easier to start a new life in Australia, there are jobs, settlement programmes and great health and education systems.  It is all here for YOU!