Are you looking for a job in the skilled occupation list (SOL) in Australia? Look no further because this article will discuss the different skills in the SOL that might be a great fit for you.
Another topic that we will take up are the kinds of visas available to individuals who are qualified to work in an eligible occupation.
Working in Australia has several advantages such as getting the opportunity to study and work at the same time, accessing their health care systems, and lastly, reaching the possibility of becoming a permanent resident in the country.
The eligible skilled occupations list originates from the government’s Skilled migration program. The list also contains occupations from The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
Under this program, migrants who can make a significant contribution to Australia’s workforce are invited to fill in positions where no Australian workers are available.
Skilled Occupation List: Available Australian Visas
The kind of visa you must have is important because it indicates whether you are qualified to work in an eligible skilled occupation in Australia. Here is the list of available visas from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) under the skilled occupation list:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187) – Temporary Residence Transition Stream
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Training visa (subclass 407)
- Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494).
Skilled Occupation List: In-Demand Jobs
As of writing, there are 674 skilled occupations listed under the SOL. However, a 2022 data from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) Portfolio indicates the top 10 occupations that are in demand in Australia.
At the top of the list is a mix of occupations that includes health care, digital, construction, test engineers or other engineering jobs, ICT security specialists. Here’s the list of in demand occupations and its respective Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) job advertisements (Only current as of date of publication, for updated figures check out the DHA’s website).
| Occupation | IVI Job Advertisements |
| Registered Nurse | 8,377 |
| Software and Applications Programmers | 6,269 |
| Aged and Disabled Carers | 4,642 |
| Child Carers | 4,277 |
| Construction Managers | 4,230 |
| Motor Mechanics | 3,924 |
| Retail Managers | 3,777 |
| Chefs | 3,725 |
| Generalist Medical Practitioners | 3,352 |
| Metal Fitters and Machinists | 3,137 |
If you need help and legal advice for your job application under any of the occupations in the SOL, don’t hesitate to contact an immigration lawyer and employment lawyer at JB Solicitors.
Types of In-Demand Jobs in the Skilled Occupation List
Under the skilled occupation list, there are different kinds of in demand jobs. You can also choose which type of visa will fit your circumstances and purpose, depending on the type of job you want to apply for.
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
- Aged Care
- Child (Children from pre primary school or young adolescents) and Family Health
- Community Health
- Critical Care and Emergency
- Developmental Disability (Mental health practitioners)
- Accommodation and Hospitality Managers
These are just some of the jobs that a registered nurse can get under the SOL. Common visas for these jobs are subclass 186, 189, 190, 489, 482, 494, 187, and 491. To check the full list of available visas, head on to DHA’s website.
Software and Applications Programmers
For software and applications programmers under the skilled occupation list, the Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the assessing authority for this application. The available visas for this occupation are the following:
- 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
- 407 – Training visa (subclass 407)
- 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) – Medium Term Stream
- 190 – Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
- 489 – Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – State or Territory nominated
- 489 – Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – Family sponsored
- 485 – Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) – Graduate Work
- 189 – Skilled Independent (subclass 189) – Points-Tested
- 187 – Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
- 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) – Employer sponsored stream
- 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) State or Territory nominated
- 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) Family Sponsored
Construction Project Managers
The assessing authority for jobs like construction project managers is the VETASSESS. This is the country’s top vocational education and training (VET) skills assessment provider for migration and national skills recognition.
The available visas for this occupation are the same as the software and applications programmers.
Motor Mechanics
For motor mechanic occupations, the Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) will assess the skills of the applicants. Under the skilled occupation list, there are three kinds of motor mechanic occupations:
- Diesel Motor Mechanic,
- Motor Mechanic (General), and
- Motorcycle Mechanic.
Retail Managers
For retail managers, it will be the VETASSESS who will provide skills assessment services. To know more about this, go to VETASSESS’ ‘Check my Occupation’ page. For this occupation, only two types of visa are available:
- 187 – Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
- 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) – Employer sponsored stream
Chef
Chef positions are also in demand in Australia. The TRA will assess the skills of the applicant for this type of occupation. Several types of visas are allowed for this occupation, namely:
- 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
- 189 – Skilled Independent (subclass 189) – Points-Tested
- 190 – Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
- 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) – Medium Term Stream
- 489 – Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – State or Territory nominated
However, for subclass 186 and 482 visas, there is a caveat. This excludes positions that have low skilled tasks, particularly, positions in mass production in a factory setting and limited service restaurants (fast food or takeaway food services, fast casual restaurants, and drinking establishments).
Schedule a Consultation with an Immigration Lawyer
Australia offers several opportunities for work, especially in industries where there is a shortage in their workforce. However, job application issues may arise during the process. If you think you have a legal claim against an employer, schedule a consultation with JB Solicitors’ employment lawyers.
We can help you protect your rights and provide legal advice for your next step that can lead to the best solution for the matter at hand. If necessary, we can also represent you to court and other government agencies.
Contact us today to know more.
