The inclusion of a range of skilled occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List – PMSOL
The PMSOL, first announced in September 2020, is developed in conjunction with the National Skills Commission to ensure a small number of critical occupations are filled to continue to create Australian jobs and aid in Australia’s ongoing recovery from the impact of COVID-19. The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifies occupations which fill critical skills needs to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The list is based on expert advice from the National Skills Commission and consultation with Commonwealth departments.
The addition of 22 occupations brings the PMSOL to 41 in total. The 22 new occupations are (including ANZSCO codes):
- Accountant (General) (221111)
- Accountant (Taxation) (221113)
- Accountant (Management) (221112)
- External Auditor (221213)
- Internal Auditor (221214)
- Electrical Engineer (233311)
- Civil Engineer (233211)
- Structural Engineer (233214)
- Geotechnical Engineer (233212)
- Transport Engineer (233215)
- Mining Engineer (233611)
- Petroleum Engineer (233612)
- Surveyor (232212)
- Cartographer (232213)
- Other Spatial Scientist (232214)
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (234611)
- Orthotist / Prosthetist (251912)
- Multimedia Specialist (261211)
- Analyst Programmer (261311)
- Software and Applications Programmers (261399)
- ICT Security Specialist (262112)
- Chef (351311)
Employer sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupation on the PMSOL are given priority processing. This will apply to existing and future applications and will allow businesses and migrants to have certainty that eligible nominations and applications will be assessed ahead of other applications.
Priority processing of nomination and visa applications for PMSOL occupations applies to these employer sponsored visa subclasses:
- Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
- Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)
While priority processing will be given to existing applications that fall within the expanded PMSOL list, given the number of additional occupations there may be some initial delays in the allocation of applications for priority processing.
Existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, but priority will be given to those in occupations on the PMSOL.
The list is temporary and priority occupations may change as Australia recovers from the pandemic. The Government and the National Skills Commission will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the Australian labour market and assess Australia’s skills needs as they evolve and new sources of data emerge.
The most up to date information on the PMSOL is available on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List.
Source: HAWKE-Supporting-Australias-COVID-recovery-through-skilled-migration.pdf and https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/skilled-migration-program/skilled-visa-newsletters/june-2021
