Australia Occupation Ceilings 2016 – 2017

Each year the government sets a ceiling for each occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). This is done to regulate the amount of visas granted in each occupation to ensure that certain occupations are not in excess. If you are applying for a skilled independent visa (subclass 189) under the skilled migration program, called SkillSelect, the below information and table will be of particular interest to you.

This programme year there are two occupations, namely Computer Network Professionals and Other Engineering Professionals, which have already reached their ceiling so no further applicants will be considered until the next programme year 2017 – 2018. Below is a table which shows how the ceilings for these two occupations have varied over the last 5 years.

The ceiling for Computer Network Professionals slowly increased from 2012 – 2015 reaching its peak in the 2015 – 2016 year with a ceiling of 1986. During this particular year the total invitations under this occupation reached its maximum. The following year the ceiling dropped significantly (to control the number of visas available in this occupation) to 1426 of which the total invitations have already been reached. This is a great example of how the government controls the occupation ceilings in each sector. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provide stock employment figures which indicates how many people are employed in each occupation and this is how the specific ceilings are determined.

The group Other Engineering Professionals has remained the same for the last four years with a ceiling of 1000 per year, and the amount of invitations matching the quota.

We expect the demand for engineering professions (primarily industrial and mechanical) to remain at their current levels, or possibly decline in the future due to weak jobs forecast in a slowing mining sector.

Occupation Ceilings for the 2016-17 Programme Year

Below is an updated list of all the occupations and their ceilings as well as percentages. This table clearly illustrates the occupations most quickly approaching their occupation ceilings.

If your occupation is nearing its occupation ceiling we advise that you move forward quickly to avoid delays with your skilled visa application.

At the time of publishing, the following occupations have reached capacity:

• Computer Network Professionals
• Other Engineering Professionals

Description	Ceiling	Invitations	Percentage
Accountants*	2500	2296	91.84
Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians	1000	95	9.50
Agricultural and Forestry Scientists	1000	165	16.50
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics	1701	20	1.18
Anaesthetists	1000	25	2.50
Architects and Landscape Architects	1391	363	26.10
Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers	1413	1265	89.53
Automotive Electricians	1000	8	0.80
Barristers	1000	1	0.10
Boat Builders and Shipwright	1000	1	0.10
Bricklayers and Stonemasons	1751	25	1.43
Cabinetmakers	1568	4	0.26
Carpenters and Joiners	7718	110	1.43
Cartographers and Surveyors	1000	77	7.70
Chefs	2854	129	4.52
Chemical and Materials Engineers	1000	599	59.90
Child Care Centre Managers	1000	19	1.90
Chiropractors and Osteopaths	1000	25	2.50
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians	1000	111	11.10
Civil Engineering Professionals	2174	1428	65.69
Computer Network Professionals	1426	1482	103.93
Construction Managers	5289	89	1.68
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers	1822	187	10.26
Electrical Distribution Trades Workers	1000	5	0.50
Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians	1000	73	7.30
Electrical Engineers	1254	742	59.17
Electricians	9345	153	1.64
Electronics Engineers	1000	879	87.90
Electronics Trades Workers	1993	46	2.31
Engineering Managers	1407	28	1.99
General Practitioners and Resident Medical officers	3495	342	9.79
Glaziers	1000	2	0.20
Health and Welfare Services Managers	1177	32	2.72
ICT Business and Systems Analysts	1482	1440	97.17
Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers	1539	1467	95.32
Internal Medicine Specialists	1000	39	3.90
Land Economists and Valuers	1035	48	4.64
Marine Transport Professionals	1000	85	8.50
Medical Imaging Professionals	1000	72	7.20
Medical Laboratory Scientists	1602	115	7.18
Metal Fitters and Machinists	6677	72	1.08
Midwives	1017	33	3.24
Motor Mechanics	5597	152	2.72
Occupational Therapists	1000	110	11.00
Optometrists and Orthoptists	1000	6	0.60
Orthotist or Prosthetist	1000	3	0.30
Other Engineering Professionals	1000	1018	101.80
Other Medical Practitioners	1315	610	46.39
Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals	1000	17	1.70
Painting Trades Workers	2871	18	0.63
Panelbeaters	1000	6	0.60
Physiotherapists	1345	140	10.41
Plasterers	2149	21	0.98
Plumbers	5169	55	1.06
Podiatrists	1000	21	2.10
Precision Metal Trades Workers	1000	0	0.00
Production Managers	3368	11	0.33
Psychiatrists	1000	12	1.20
Psychologists	1532	78	5.09
Registered Nurses	16346	2433	14.88
Secondary School Teachers	8032	458	5.70
Sheetmetal Trades Workers	1000	2	0.20
Social Workers	1783	174	9.76
Software and Applications Programmers	5662	519	9.17
Solicitors	5154	174	3.38
Special Education Teachers	1126	16	1.42
Speech Professionals and Audiologists	1000	48	4.80
Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers	4466	48	1.07
Surgeons	1000	17	1.70
Telecommunications Engineering Professionals	1000	796	79.60
Telecommunications Technical Specialists	1000	22	2.20
Veterinarians	1000	99	9.90
Wall and Floor Tilers	1475	3	0.20

Statistics sourced from https://www.border.gov.au/

If you are considering applying for a Skilled Independent visa through the Skilled Migration Program, SkillSelect, get started with a free assessment and let us guide you through the complex process.

Please visit our web page and blog for further updates on Occupation Ceilings and other information regarding skilled visa applications.