Australia's Net Gains from International Skilled Movement
By Bob Birrell, Virginia Rapson and T. Fred Smith, for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, May 2006
This report describes the movement of skilled persons by major occupation to and from Australia for the years up to 2004-05. It examines separately the movements of Australian residents, long-term visitors to Australia and settlers. The report concludes that ‘the contribution from the international movement of skilled workers to Australia’s skilled workforce in 2004-05 is substantial and increasing. The 2004-05 contribution is equivalent to about one-third of the overall growth in the employment of skilled persons in Australia over that year’. The report examines concerns about a brain drain of Australian residents. It concludes that Australia’s loss of skilled residents overseas is very small by international standards and that these losses are made up several times over by gains from visitors to Australia and settlers.
Download a copy of the report and the appendices here.