Due to the recent changes to Australia’s skilled migration policies, many Australian states are fearing of labor shortages. These states are really concerned about the changes and their future effects on the labor market- if new changes in skilled migrant policies would not be able to bring adequate skilled labor to the country, then the country will suffer from labor shortages for sure!

For instance, the state of Queensland would most probably suffer from skilled labor shortages, which would definitely affect its economy in the larger picture. The state currently needs skilled laborers, including engineers, drivers, plumbers since there are many large- scale projects in advance or in the pipeline. The worst thing is that the types of occupations that Queensland is contemplating are not included in the critical skills list of the Australian Department of Immigration.

Similarly, Production Manager is another occupation that is in hot demand in Western Australia, but it is missing in the critical list as well. The changes to the policies could become a major concern for Australia. As the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland says that if Australia does not bring new skills, then it would require to hold off the projects that need skills, but then if the projects are being hold back, the country will be losing the wealth that would have come from the projects.

As a matter of fact, when a country attracts skilled immigrants, the latter help the local economies doing well, since they raise the demand for housing, as well as other aspects like teachers and help local businesses when they shop! Thus, the president is urging the government to make the immigration policies more flexible, so that they meet the demands of different Australian states!