Most skilled migrants from India

The Observer ^ | 19 July, 2012 | The Observer

[James C. Bennett]

INDIA is now Australia's largest source of skilled permanent migrants, with more than 29,000 Indians moving to Australia in 2011-12, a report released on Thursday reveals.

The annual Migration Report reveals almost 185,000 people migrated to Australia in the 2011-12 financial year.

Of these, a large contingent was destined for regional areas, with 16,741 people moving to Australia under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

More than 23% of those regional sponsored migrants moved to Western Australia.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said while the government's first priority was always finding jobs for Australia, the skilled migration program was helping fill the gaps left in the regions, especially those gaps due to the ageing population.

"For the first time, India was Australia's largest source of permanent migrants, with a total of 29,018 places or 15.7% of the total migration program," he said.

"China and the United Kingdom were our second and third largest sources of permanent migrants, with 25,509 and 25,274 places respectively."

Seven of the top 10 source countries in Australia's 2011-12 migration program were from Asia: India, China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam.

Top 10 source countries for skilled migration in 2011-12:

India: 29,018 China: 25,509 United Kingdom: 25,274 Philippines: 12,933 South Africa: 7640 Sri Lanka: 5577 Malaysia: 5508 Irish Republic: 4938 South Korea: 4874 Vietnam: 4773

[James C. Bennett]

Australia has a points-based immigration system which favours immigrants who know the English language, are young, have valuable skills (especially in engineering and the sciences) and are able to pass a citizenship test.

[entropy12]

Australia has a points-based immigration system which favours immigrants who know the English language, are young, have valuable skills (especially in engineering and the sciences) and are able to pass a citizenship test.

Now why can't USA think like that?

[Veto!]

If the economy keeps tanking, Americans are going to move to other countries in search of jobs. HOwever, our ed system is so bad, our citizens might lose out to Indians. Oh wait, we don’t have to leave the country for that to happen.

[Veto!]

If the economy keeps tanking, Americans are going to move to other countries in search of jobs. HOwever, our ed system is so bad, our citizens might lose out to Indians. Oh wait, we don’t have to leave the country for that to happen.