With plenty of opportunities for skilled workers, Australia is an incredibly popular country for immigrants, many of whom come to work in its vast healthcare sector. In 2022, a huge shortage in both skills and labor across Australia’s workforce led to the government announcing an increase in the number of permanent visas it would issue. Annual migration intake is expected to rise by 35,000, with nurses and general practitioners (GPs) among the job roles most in need of new workers to fill them.
Australia’s Healthcare Worker Shortage
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on Australia’s society and economy. This includes contributing significantly to the shortage of skilled workers Australia currently faces, particularly within the healthcare sector.
Healthcare workers have always been in high demand, but the pandemic pushed that demand to record levels. It also had a significant impact on existing sector workers, taking a physical and mental toll. Many healthcare professionals have experienced burnout, with some even changing profession as a result.
Australia’s 2022 Skills Priority List found serious staff shortages in 31% (286 out of 914) of occupations across Australia, almost double the amount found in 2021. Some of the biggest shortages are in healthcare (with nursing the most in-demand occupation), as well as teaching, and technician and trade roles.
An earlier report from the National Skills Commission, in 2021, had already suggested that by 2050, Australia could face a shortfall of 200,000 in full-time care workers.
This skills shortage means that your visa application could be fast-tracked if it relates to a healthcare or teaching job.
Healthcare Jobs in Australia
Australia is a big country, with a large and diverse healthcare sector. In fact, the healthcare system is Australia’s biggest employer. Within the workforce, there are over 700,000 skilled professionals including doctors, nurses, dentists, midwives, and other healthcare practitioners like physiotherapists.
More than 40 per cent of Australia’s nurses and over half of its doctors were born overseas. The largest proportion of international medical graduates (IMGs) in Australia comes from India. And with high demand for new workers to power the country’s economy, skilled migrant numbers are set to keep growing.
There are almost 30,000 new job openings for nurses alone every year – a figure which seems likely only to grow. And nurses’ salaries sit in the top 20% of earnings for all Australian workers. Doctors are also highly in demand, with a shortage of around 11,000 people expected over the next 10 years for GPs alone.
The skills and staffing issue shortage is most severe in more rural and remote parts of the country. So, while the big cities are the most popular immigration destinations, by choosing a less populous area you could potentially have a far greater impact. There are financial incentives you may be able to take advantage of too.
Sending money from Australia
If you move to Australia for work, you may find you frequently need to transfer money internationally. Many immigrants send a portion of their wages back home every month, and, if that includes you, it’s important to find a money transfer service you can rely on.
It’s so quick and easy to reliably send money from Australia to India, or wherever you need it to go, with Western Union. You can choose between in-person agent locations and digital transfer options.
The dedicated app makes it more convenient than ever, plus you can track your transfers and immediately find international exchange rates.
