Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) Introduced

As we announced in our COVID-19 update earlier today, the Australian government has introduced a new occupations list referred to as the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). This article aims to cover a little more, based on what we know so far.

PMSOL – Key Highlights:

Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List contains 17 occupations.
11 of the 17 occupations are from the health care sector.
Candidates from overseas will receive travel exemptions upon receives visas.

The PMSOL comprises 17 occupations with a focus on the engineering, health and IT sectors.

PMSOL Occupations

The 17 occupations and associated ANZSCO codes on the PMSOL are:

Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)
Construction Project Manager (133111)
Mechanical Engineer (233512)
General Practitioner (253111)
Resident Medical Officer (253112)
Psychiatrist (253411)
Medical Practitioner nec (253999)
Midwife (254111)
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
Registered Nurses nec (254499)
Developer Programmer (261312)
Software Engineer (261313)
Maintenance Planner (312911)

The intent behind this new list is that applicants looking to be sponsored under the 482 Sponsored visa scheme will receive priority processing and easier access to travel exemptions in order to enter and work in Australia.

The existing skilled occupation lists (the STSOL and MLTSSL) remain active and 482 visa applications based on these lists will continue to be processed. However, 482 visa applications based on the PMSOL will be given priority.

Strengthened Labour Market Testing

This initiative also comes with strengthened labour market testing requirements. Currently, for a nomination to be approved employers need to provide evidence that they have tested the local labour market (unless exempt due to International Trade Agreements).

Labour Market testing includes records of recruitment efforts and details of the advertisement. Advertisement must be conducted for at least 4 weeks including two adverts drafted as per prescribed criteria.

In addition to these requirements, employers looking to nominate applicants under a Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa or Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, will also need to advertise their vacancy on the Government’s jobactive website.

In a media release, acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the changes would strike the right balance for Australia’s economic recovery.

Our priority is getting Australians back into work but we also need key health workers to help fight the virus and skilled migrants who are going to be job multipliers, to help the economy recover,”

These occupations in the health care, constructionand IT sectors will supercharge both our health and economic response to COVID-19.

Visa holders, who have been sponsored by an Australia business in a PMSOL occupation can request an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions, but will be subject to a strict 14 days quarantine on arrival at their own expense.

As always, any occupation advertised under this new PMSOL will be found under our Australia sponsored jobs listings.