1. Skilled Temporary Migration from Asia-Pacific Countries to Australia Siew-Ean Khoo, ANU Graeme Hugo, University of Adelaide Peter McDonald, ANU

2. Outline of presentation Asia-Pacific region as a source of skilled temporary migration to Australia Characteristics of skilled temporary migrants from Asia-Pacific countries Reasons for coming to work in Australia Employment situation Return migration/residence intentions Conclusions

3. 457 visa grants, 1999-2006

4. Top ten source countries of 457 visa holders (visa grants) 1999-20002004-05 Jun-Dec 2006 UK 23%UK 26% UK 22% USA 10%India 10%India 13% India 8%USA 6%S. Africa 8% S. Africa 7%S. Africa 6%Philippines 8% Japan 6%Japan 4%China 6% China 4%Ireland 4%USA 5% Canada 3%China 4%Germany 3% Ireland 3%Germany 3%Japan 3% Indonesia 3%Canada 3% Canada 2% France 2%Philippines 2%Ireland 2% N=35,006N= 49,855 N=40,610

5. Asia-Pacific 457 visa holders temporarily resident in Australia, 1998-2006

6. Stock of Asia-Pacific 457 visa holders by country of origin Country 1998 2000 2006 Change 98-06 India 9432607 5889 524% Sri Lanka 85 210 472 455% Pakistan na na 239 na Total S. Asia 10282817 6990 580% China 16212887 4219 160% Hong Kong 526 744 413 -21% Japan 34184638 3781 11% Korea 14972872 2276 52% Taiwan 9591088 269 -72% Total E. Asia 8021 12229 10981 37%

7. Stock of Asia-Pacific 457 visa holders by country of origin Country 1998 2000 2006 Change 98-06 Indonesia 484983 756 87% Malaysia 402817 1353 237% Philippines 349743 3274 838% Singapore 690 1117 1017 47% Thailand 245529 668173% Viet Nam 42 na 566 1248% Total SE. Asia 2132 4189 7769264% Fiji 96204 413 330% PNG 27 na 526 1848% Other 4 na 129 3125% Total Pacific 127 204 1068 741%

8. Destination by State/Territory of Asia-Pacific 457 visa grants, June-Dec 2006 State/ India Philippines China Japan Korea Malaysia Territory % % % % % % NSW 36 15 24 36 50 26 Vic 39 14 22 26 21 28 Qld 12 25 26 22 21 17 SA 3 5 3 2 4 4 WA 6 32 16 13 8 21 Tas 1 1 2 <1 1 <1 NT 1 8 4 2 1 2 ACT 1 1 3 2 1 <1

9. Survey of 457 visa holders N=1175 skilled temporary migrants Fairly representative in terms of gender composition (67% male), State/Territory of residence (47% in Sydney, 15% in regional areas) and industry of employment (19% in IT). 348 from Asia-Pacific countries (30% of total sample – similar to percentage based on all 457 visa holders resident in Australia. Good representation from non-English-speaking countries in A-P region (86 from Japan, 43 from Korea, 31 from China, 21 from Thailand).

10. Survey respondents from Asia-Pacific countries compared with stock of 457 visa holders by country of birth, June 2005 No. % % stock Indonesia 11 3.2 2.8 Malaysia 22 6.3 5.6 Philippines 15 4.3 6.3 Singapore 14 4.0 6.2 Thailand 21 6.0 3.0 Viet Nam 4 1.1 0.7 SE Asia 87 24.9 25.2 Fiji 5 1.4 1.2 PNG 0 0 1.0 Total Pacific 5 1.4 2.7 No. % % stock China 31 8.9 13.5 Hong Kong 7 2.0 2.1 Japan 86 24.7 19.4 Korea 43 12.4 10.9 Taiwan 6 1.7 1.6 NE Asia 173 49.7 47.6 India 71 20.4 21.1 Sri Lanka 5 1.4 1.4 Bangladesh 3 0.9 0.5 Pakistan 1 0.3 0.6 S. Asia 83 23.9 24.5

11. Skilled temporary migrants from Asia-Pacific compared with those from other regions

12. Percentage female by country of origin

13. Skilled temporary migrants from Asia-Pacific compared with those from other regions

14. Reasons for coming to work in Australia

15. Asia-Pacific skilled temporary migrants’ reasons for coming to Australia, by country of origin

16. Asia-Pacific migrants’ industry of employment

17. Employment situation of Asia-Pacific temporary migrants compared with migrants from other regions

20. Residence intentions of migrants from Asia-Pacific and other regions

21. Reasons for applying for permanent residence

22. Reasons for not applying for permanent residence in Australia

23. Asia-Pacific skilled temporary migrants’ views about their experience in Australia Asia-Pacific Other regions Increase goodwill between home country & Aust. (p<0.10) A lot 74%54% Somewhat 22%32% No 4%14% Increase business connections (p<0.10) A lot 67%52% Somewhat 25%32% No 8%16% Overall satisfaction (p<0.10) Very satisfied 51%68% Satisfied 44%29% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 5% 2% Dissatisfied 0% 1%

24. Conclusions Recent increase in the numbers and percentages of 457 visa holders from the Philippines, India, China and the Pacific Islands suggests that the Asia-Pacific region is likely to play a more important role in the coming years as a source of skilled temporary migration to Australia. Employers (in regional areas) may sponsor more intermediate skilled workers who are more likely to be sourced from the Asia- Pacific region. Asian businesses are important players in sponsoring workers from the same country of origin, suggesting the role of migrant/ethnic networks. Many Asia-Pacific skilled temporary migrants are working for small businesses rather than large transnational companies. They are more likely to be attracted to Australia because of better employment opportunities and higher salaries; more likely to come with intention to apply for permanent residence.