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Australian News / How To | 4 October 2026
If you are considering skilled migration to Australia, the most important thing to understand is that ‘in demand’, ‘in shortage’ and ‘eligible for a skilled visa’ do not mean exactly the same thing.
As at 4 October 2026, the latest complete national Occupation Shortage List published by Jobs and Skills Australia is the 2025 list. The next annual list has not yet been released. The 2025 data found that 29% of occupations were in shortage, with the most persistent pressure concentrated in health, early childhood education, construction, engineering and automotive trades. At the same time, the Department of Home Affairs maintains separate skilled occupation lists for visa programs such as subclasses 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 and 494.
That means an occupation may be visa-eligible even if it is not currently classified as a national shortage, and being on a shortage list does not automatically mean you will receive a visa invitation.
Where the strongest demand signals are right now
The clearest opportunities are where three signals overlap: a persistent labour shortage, current migration eligibility, and evidence of recent invitations or employer sponsorship.
1. Health professionals
Health remains one of Australia’s strongest shortage areas. Jobs and Skills Australia continues to identify long-training-gap shortages across a wide range of health professions, including medical practitioners, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, pharmacists, medical imaging professionals, audiologists and speech pathologists.
Recent Skilled Independent visa invitation results also included General Practitioners, many Registered Nurse specialisations, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Clinical Psychologists, Speech Pathologists, Audiologists, Sonographers and other medical professionals.
Good occupations to investigate include: General Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Midwife, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech Pathologist, Psychologist, Sonographer, Medical Diagnostic Radiographer, Pharmacist and specialist medical occupations.
2. Teaching and early childhood education
Education shortages remain particularly important in early childhood and selected school teaching roles. Early Childhood Teachers are among the occupations Jobs and Skills Australia identifies as facing long-training-gap pressure.
Recent SkillSelect invitations included Secondary School Teachers, Special Needs Teachers and Special Education Teachers. State nomination programs may also place their own priority on education occupations depending on local workforce needs.
3. Construction and building trades
Construction remains one of the strongest areas for skilled migration. Jobs and Skills Australia says trades account for a large share of occupations in persistent shortage, especially construction-related roles.
Recent subclass 189 invitation results included Bricklayers, Carpenters, Joiners, Plumbers, Electricians, Glaziers, Stonemasons, Wall and Floor Tilers, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics, Sheetmetal Trades Workers and other skilled trades.
Several of these occupations were invited at comparatively lower points scores than many professional occupations in the June 2026 round, although invitation scores change from round to round and should never be treated as a guaranteed future cut-off.
4. Automotive trades
Australia continues to report persistent shortages across the automotive sector. Motor Mechanics, Diesel Motor Mechanics, Automotive Electricians, Panelbeaters and related trades remain difficult for employers to fill in many locations.
Motor Mechanics have also been among the most frequently sponsored occupations under temporary skilled employer-sponsored visa programs, reinforcing the demand signal in this sector.
5. Agriculture, resources and selected technical occupations
Recent skilled migration invitations have also covered Agricultural Consultants, Agricultural Scientists, Surveyors, Mining Engineers, Environmental Scientists and a range of engineering and technical occupations.
Demand can be particularly strong in regional Australia, where employers often face a smaller local labour pool. Regional pathways can therefore be worth investigating even where metropolitan competition is high.
6. Hospitality
Chefs and Cooks have been among the most frequently sponsored occupations in employer-sponsored skilled migration statistics. However, applicants should check the exact occupation definition, visa list, salary requirements and any applicable caveats before assuming they qualify.
7. Technology and ICT: eligible does not always mean shortage
Software and Applications Programmers have been among the most commonly sponsored occupations in recent temporary skilled visa data. However, Jobs and Skills Australia has also reported that a number of professional ICT occupations moved from shortage to no shortage in the 2025 Occupation Shortage List as recruitment conditions eased.
This is a good example of why applicants should not rely on a generic ‘jobs in demand’ list. You need to check the specific occupation, visa pathway and current labour-market position.
What should you do if you think you qualify?
Step 1: Identify your exact occupation and code
Do not choose an occupation simply because the job title sounds similar to your role. Compare your qualifications, duties and employment history with the official occupation description and relevant ANZSCO classification used for the visa pathway.
Then check the Department of Home Affairs Skilled Occupation List to confirm which visas currently accept that occupation and which assessing authority applies.
Step 2: Decide which migration pathway fits
The main pathways include:
- Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent: points-tested permanent migration without state or employer sponsorship.
- Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated: permanent migration with nomination by an Australian state or territory.
- Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional: a provisional regional visa requiring state or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship.
- Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand: employer-sponsored temporary skilled migration. The Core Skills stream uses the Core Skills Occupation List.
- Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme: employer-sponsored permanent residence, subject to the relevant stream requirements.
- Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional: employer-sponsored migration for designated regional Australia.
Step 3: Obtain the correct skills assessment
For points-tested visas such as 189, 190 and 491, applicants generally need a suitable skills assessment in their nominated occupation before they can be invited to apply. The assessing authority varies by occupation.
Regulated professions may also require separate professional registration or licensing. For example, health professionals may need Australian registration, and many trades have state-based licensing rules. A migration skills assessment is not always the same thing as permission to practise the occupation in Australia.
Step 4: Check English, age, qualifications and points
Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas are points-tested. The current minimum threshold is 65 points, but reaching 65 does not guarantee an invitation. Actual invitation scores can be substantially higher depending on occupation and competition.
Points can be awarded for factors including age, English proficiency, skilled employment experience, educational qualifications and other criteria. Applicants should calculate their likely score only using evidence they can later prove.
Step 5: Submit an Expression of Interest if required
For subclass 189, 190 and 491 pathways, applicants submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. An EOI is not a visa application. If invited, the applicant generally has 60 days to lodge the visa application through ImmiAccount.
State and territory governments manage their own nomination priorities and criteria for subclasses 190 and 491, so applicants should also check the individual migration website for the state or territory they are targeting.
Step 6: For employer-sponsored migration, check the employer and salary rules
For the Skills in Demand visa and certain employer-sponsored permanent pathways, the occupation must fit the relevant list and the employer must meet sponsorship and nomination requirements.
From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold is A$79,423 for relevant subclass 482 Core Skills and subclass 186 nomination applications, subject to the Australian market salary rate and other rules. Regional employer-sponsored pathways have their own requirements.
Step 7: Prepare evidence before making claims
Applicants should collect employment references, payslips or tax evidence where relevant, qualifications, professional registrations, English test results, identity documents and any required skills assessment documents before relying on those claims in an EOI or visa application.
Home Affairs can require applicants to prove every material claim made in an EOI. Incorrectly claiming work experience, qualifications or points can lead to refusal.
Do not rely on a single ‘migration jobs list’
The Australian migration system uses several different occupation lists and pathways. Jobs and Skills Australia’s Occupation Shortage List measures labour-market shortages, while Home Affairs’ skilled occupation lists determine whether a particular occupation can be used for specific visa programs.
The safest approach is therefore to check three things together:
- Is your occupation currently in shortage or showing strong employer demand?
- Is it currently eligible for the visa pathway you want?
- Can you personally satisfy the skills assessment, English, points, registration, salary, sponsorship and other requirements?
If all three line up, it may be worth moving to a formal eligibility assessment or preparing an EOI or employer-sponsored application.
Current official sources: Jobs and Skills Australia Occupation Shortage List; Department of Home Affairs Skilled Occupation List; SkillSelect; and SkillSelect invitation rounds.
Migration disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not immigration, legal or professional advice. Occupation lists, invitation scores, state nomination criteria, visa requirements, salary thresholds and processing priorities can change without notice. Being in an occupation in shortage or on a skilled occupation list does not guarantee eligibility, nomination, sponsorship or a visa invitation. Check the current Department of Home Affairs requirements, the relevant state or territory migration program and the nominated assessing or registration authority before acting. If you need personalised immigration assistance, consider using a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.
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Disclaimer
NextNews strives for accurate news, but use it with caution—content changes often, external links may be iffy, and technical glitches happen. See the full disclaimer for details.