LABOUR MARKET OUTCOMES

Many migration policies and visa applications are underpinned by labour market needs. To facilitate analysis of migrant labour market outcomes, respondents to the survey were asked about their employment prior to arrival in Australia, their current employment status and their occupation prior to and after arrival.

EMPLOYMENT

In November 2013, 65% of the 1.5 million recent migrants and temporary residents were employed. Migrants who had obtained Australian citizenship since arrival were more likely to be employed (73%) than migrants on a permanent visa (60%) or temporary residents (64%). Of those employed, 75% of people with Australian citizenship were employed full time, compared with 74% on a permanent visa and 65% of temporary residents. (Table 2)

Around three quarters (73%) of Skilled migrants were employed as at November 2013. Of the Skilled migrants who were the main applicant, 85% were employed. About half (55%) of migrants on a Family visa and 70% of those on Other permanent visas were employed. Temporary residents on student visas were less likely to be employed than other temporary residents (55% compared with 72%). (Tables 2 and 17)

Overall, men were more likely to be employed full time than women: 92% of employed male migrants with Australian citizenship were employed full time compared with 57% of females; 86% of employed males on a permanent visa were employed full time compared with 58% of females; and 72% of employed male temporary residents were employed full time compared with 54% of females. (Table 2)

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The unemployment rate for recent migrants was 7.0%, compared with 5.4% for people born in Australia. Migrants with Australian citizenship had an unemployment rate of 4.3%, temporary residents 4.6% and recent migrants on a permanent visa 9.0%. (Table 2 and Graph 1)


Recent migrants and temporary residents who had obtained a non-school qualification since arrival had a lower unemployment rate than those who had not (3.5% compared with 7.4%). (Table 3)

LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE

The labour force participation rate for recent migrants and temporary residents was 69% in November 2013, compared with the total Australian rate of 66%. Migrants who had obtained Australian citizenship since arrival had a higher labour force participation rate (77%) than other recent migrants (66%) and temporary residents (67%). (Table 2)

Overall, men had a higher labour force participation rate than women: 85% for male migrants with Australian citizenship compared with 69% for females; 83% for males on a permanent visa compared with 52% for females; and 74% for males on a temporary visa compared with 59% for females. In comparison, for males and females born in Australia, the participation rates were 74% and 62% respectively. (Table 2 and Graph 2)


The labour force participation rate was higher for those recent migrants who had obtained a non-school qualification before arrival (80%) than for those who had not (54%). It was also higher for recent migrants who had obtained a non-school qualification since arrival (85%) than for those who had not (64%). (Table 3)

FINDING EMPLOYMENT

Around 11% of recent migrants who have had a job in Australia arrived with their first job arranged, whereas 43% spent up to three months looking for their first job. (Table 15)

An estimated 43% of recent migrants who have had a job since arrival received some form of help to find their first job. Of these people:

• 70% had help from friends or family
• 20% had help from Centrelink, a Job Network agency or Job Services Australia provider
• 6.4% had help from a migrant association or refugee settlement organisation/church or community group
• 6.1% had help from an educational institution. (Table 15)

Around one third (34%) of recent migrants who have had a job in Australia reported experiencing some difficulty finding their first job. Of these people:

• 61% reported a lack of Australian work experience or references
• 33% experienced language difficulties
• 28% reported a lack of local contacts or networks
• 15% reported no jobs or vacancies in their locality or preferred occupation
• 15% said their skills or qualifications were not recognised. (Table 15)