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Employers say fix the system, not the intake: four asks that could shape your skilled visa

News · 2026-08-25 · 4 min read

Short answer: a leading employer association told a parliamentary inquiry not to cut skilled migration but to fix how the system works. Its four requests, if adopted, could shorten waits, simplify qualification recognition and make the visa system easier to plan around. They are proposals from one group, not rule changes.

What was submitted

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration's inquiry into the value of skilled migration. Its argument was that businesses need a system built on predictability rather than politics. Housing, infrastructure, manufacturing, health and aged care cannot run without migrant talent, it said, because local training does not produce workers fast enough.

The four asks at a glance

Ask one: hold the line on numbers

The position was defensive. Vacancies still outpace local supply in construction, energy and care, so cutting intake risks stalling projects already under way.

Ask two: simplify recognition of qualifications

Slow and inconsistent recognition of overseas qualifications and licences is a complaint from both employers and migrants. The group wants it streamlined in occupations with critical shortages. If you work in a regulated field, start the process early and keep certified copies of your documents. RPLDirect explains one route to recognition for Australian qualifications.

Ask three: faster, steadier processing

The submission singled out the Skills in Demand visa and the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, where delays create business uncertainty. Employers planning workforce needs months ahead find unpredictable turnaround as damaging as the shortage itself.

Ask four: explain the value

The most interesting request is a communication strategy that shows everyday Australians how skilled migration supports the services, housing and infrastructure they use. Public opinion, not just policy design, shapes political appetite for migration settings.

Where this fits

The submission arrived at a sensitive moment, with pressure in some quarters to tighten intake to ease housing costs. The group argued that scaling back would add to, not solve, pressure on housing delivery, infrastructure timelines and investment. The committee hearings could shape processing times, occupation lists and sponsorship pathways for years.

For more, see our piece on why employers want predictability and our guide to the skills shortage beyond the debate. Read the visa guides to compare routes, browse current vacancies and check the official Department of Home Affairs website for the rules in force.

Common mistakes when reading policy submissions

• Treating a lobbying request as a decision.
• Assuming an inquiry will report quickly.
• Waiting for reform before preparing documents.
• Ignoring the recognition step for your own occupation.

Questions applicants ask about the submission

Has the system changed because of it?

No. It was a submission to an inquiry, and recommendations still have to move toward policy.

Which visas were named?

The Skills in Demand visa and the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.

Why did it focus on recognition of qualifications?

Slow recognition delays the time between a visa grant and starting work.

Does holding intake steady help applicants?

It would keep the skilled stream from shrinking, but it does not make any single application easier.

What to remember before you apply

Employers want predictable, faster, better-explained skilled migration. Until the inquiry produces changes, prepare as if processing and recognition will remain slow, and check official pages for the rules in force.

#skilled migration #employer submission #inquiry #skills in demand #subclass 186