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OVERVIEW The Characteristics of Recent Migrants Survey provides detailed data about migrants who have come to Australia over the past 10 years and how they have fared after their arrival. The topics inclulde how migrants settle into employment and whether their likelihood of finding work relates to their visa type, education, language skills or other characteristics. In November 2016, the in-scope Australian population aged 15 years and over was 19.1 million people. Of these people, an estimated 6.8 million (35%) were born overseas. (Table 1) Around 1.9 million of the people born overseas arrived in Australia to live after 2006 and were aged 15 years and over on arrival. This represents 10% of the total population aged 15 years and over. Of these, 254,600 were an Australian or New Zealand citizen before arrival or held New Zealand citizenship as at November 2016. This group is not covered in this analysis. The remaining 1.7 million people were recent migrants or temporary residents, who are the focus of this commentary. Of these:
LABOUR MARKET OUTCOMES
EMPLOYMENT In November 2016, 65% of the 1.7 million recent migrants and temporary residents were employed. Migrants who had obtained Australian citizenship since arrival were more likely to be employed (77%) than migrants on a permanent visa (63%), or temporary residents (59%). Of those employed, 79% of people with Australian citizenship were employed full time, compared with 74% on a permanent visa and 61% of temporary residents. (Table 2) Around three quarters (75%) of Skilled migrants were employed as at November 2016. Of the Skilled migrants who were the main visa applicant, 82% were employed. About half (54%) of migrants on a Family visa and 59% of those on Other permanent visas were employed. Temporary residents on student visas were less likely to be employed than other temporary residents (50% compared with 68%). (Tables 2 and 17) Overall, men were more likely to be employed full time than women: 87% of employed male migrants with Australian citizenship were employed full time compared with 68% of females; among employed permanent visa holders, 82% of males were employed full time compared with 66% of females; and 67% of employed male temporary residents were employed full time compared with 55% of female temporary residents. (Table 2) UNEMPLOYMENT RATE The unemployment rate for recent migrants and temporary residents was 7.4%, compared with 5.4% for people born in Australia. Migrants with Australian citizenship had an unemployment rate of 3.3%, temporary residents 8.6% and recent migrants on a permanent visa 8.8%. (Table 2 and Graph 1) Graph 1: Unemployment rate by residency type as at November 2016 and sex Source(s): Characteristics of Recent Migrants, Australia, November 2016 Recent migrants and temporary residents who had obtained a non-school qualification since arrival had a lower unemployment rate than those who had not (5.7% compared with 8.3%). (Table 3). LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE The labour force participation rate for recent migrants and temporary residents was 70% in November 2016, while the total participation rate for Australia was 66%. Migrants who had obtained Australian citizenship since arrival had a higher labour force participation rate (80%) than permanent residents(69%) and temporary residents (65%). (Table 2) Overall, men had a higher labour force participation rate than women: (90%) for male migrants with Australian citizenship compared with (71%) for females; (86%) for males on a permanent visa compared with (58%) for females; and 74% for males on a temporary visa compared with 54% for females. In comparison, for males and females born in Australia, the participation rates were 75% and 66% respectively. (Table 2 and Graph 2) Graph 2: Labour force participation rate by residency type as at November 2016 and sex ![]() Source(s): Characteristics of Recent Migrants, Australia, November 2016 The labour force participation rate was higher for those recent migrants who arrived in Australia already having obtained a non-school qualification (83%) than for those who had not (58%). It was also higher for recent migrants who obtained a non-school qualification since arrival (84%) than for those who had not (68%). (Table 3) FINDING EMPLOYMENT Around 9.1% of recent migrants who have had a job in Australia arrived with their first job arranged, whereas 46% 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. The most common sources of help were:
Around one third (31%) of recent migrants who have had a job in Australia reported experiencing some difficulty finding their first job. The most common difficulties were:
EDUCATION The education levels of recent migrants and temporary residents can impact on their settlement outcomes during their first 10 years in Australia. Respondents were asked about qualifications they had obtained prior to arriving in Australia and if they were recognised in Australia, whether their qualifications were used in their first job and whether they had obtained any qualifications since arrival. RECENT MIGRANTS An estimated 65% of recent migrants held a non-school qualification before arriving in Australia. Of these, 76% had a Bachelor Degree or higher, 14% had an Advanced Diploma or Diploma and 8.7% had a Certificate level qualification. (Table 3) Of the recent migrants who had a non-school qualification before arriving in Australia and who had a job since arriving in Australia, 53% had used their highest non-school qualification in their first job. Another 18% of these recent migrants had not used their highest non-school qualification in their first job, but had tried to find work more suited to their qualification. (Table 15) One third (33%) of recent migrants who had obtained a non-school qualification before arrival had their overseas qualifications recognised in Australia. (Table 16) SKILLED VISA HOLDERS About 79% of skilled visa holders who were main applicants had a non-school qualification before arrival and 55% of these were currently employed in a job using their qualification. Of those who had not used their qualification, 26% had tried to find work more suited to their qualifications. (Table 17) TEMPORARY RESIDENTS An estimated 55% of temporary residents had a non-school qualification before arriving in Australia. Of these, 78% had a Bachelor Degree or higher. (Table 3) A third (33%) of temporary residents had obtained a non-school qualification after arriving in Australia, with 61% of these completing a Bachelor Degree or higher. (Table 3) HOUSEHOLD INCOME
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