A Deloitte Access Economics report reveals over 620,000 permanent migrants in Australia work below their skill levels, with 60% arriving through the skilled migration system. The construction industry faces an acute skills shortage, with 18,400 skilled migrants already in the country unable to contribute effectively due to costly and complex qualification recognition processes.

Key highlights:

• New skilled visa system: Introduced on December 7, it includes three tiers for care workers, high-paid professionals, and core roles earning $70,000–$135,000.
• Industry challenge: Shaun Schmitke, deputy CEO of Master Builders Australia, emphasises the need to reduce red tape. He states, “18,400 skilled migrants could deliver 47,000 new homes over a decade if barriers are removed.”
• Proposed reforms:
  • Merge visa approval and skills recognition processes to streamline employment readiness.
  • Establish a new ombudsman to ensure fairness, oversight, and transparency.
  • Create a one-stop-shop for recognising qualifications across states.

To address housing targets and labour gaps, Australia must activate skilled migrants and prioritise faster integration into the workforce.

_{This summary is based on an article by Ronald Mizen, published in The Financial Review titled 'Give us a chance: More visas not enough to fix skills crisis'.}