The Productivity Commission’s 2016 Migrant Intake into Australia report noted “the fundamental importance of strong English-language skills for an immigrant’s integration and wellbeing in Australia” and explicitly recommended “significant reforms within the current system” and “‘raising the bar’ by shifting to a universal points test while tightening entry requirements relating to age, skills and English-language proficiency”.
Since then, multiple surveys have found that the majority of recently arrived skilled migrants are working in jobs far below their indicated skill level.
The Australian Population Research Institute (APRI) produced research, based on 2016 Census data, demonstrating that most recently arrived skilled migrants (those who arrived between 2011 and 2016) were unable to find professional jobs.
