Is there really skill shortage in Australia or they are looking for cheap educated labour?

Question

I come across many Indians who have master's degree in IT, Accounting, Engineering and they are driving taxis, working as security gaurds or working in service stations. Most of the people working in night shifts are Indians. On the other hand, govt claims all the time that there is huge skills shortage in the country. I really really don't believe in this drama and really think that they wan to exploit migrants as long as they can. What are your views?

Answer 1

I used to help former communist political refugees assimilate into the US and was initially surprised how difficult it was for PhD's in fields like mathematics, robotic engineering or polymer manufacturing to find jobs in the US.  The private aid contractors I had to work along side would get bonuses from the State Department according to the speed with which these highly educated professionals got a job. As a result, they were encouraged/coerced into c**p jobs like McDonalds or mind numbing manufacturing work. In fairness, the government wanted them off of public support and into their own jobs - any jobs. Since it takes a while even for a domestically educated and licensed engineer, or any domestic professional to get a job, the lousy jobs were where these immigrants ended up. The up side is that over time most of the refugees I knew found their way to suitable positions.

  I don't know how it is in Australia, but here in the US the rule of thumb is it takes a month to find a job per every $25K (USD) you make. My personal experience supports this, but it may be a little longer now.

Maybe you are right and the governments are encouraging highly educated migrants into lame positions. I confess, I enjoy the refreshing but increasingly rare conversation with a sharp wit at the checkout, which usually comes from a migrant worker.  Reality is though, this is a huge waste of a resource for society at large. At the very least, the governments should be encouraging higher technically charged  employment for these skilled immigrants since they make a better return from taxing these folks.

I agree with the drama POV too. If the labor scarcity was really so bad, employer incentives from higher wages would remedy their skilled labor shortage by encouraging people to learn the requisite skills.

You Australians are lucky/smart. It seems the US is losing out on the opportunities provided by these folks by limiting formal immigration from the world at large.

Peace and Best Regards All!

Answer 2

Australia doesnt have a labor shortage. It has a shortage of people willing to work. With ultra feminist laws being passed there many guys just gave up and dont care.

Answer 3

i partley agree with the second guy. he said that we don't have a shortage. i believe we have a shortage of people willing to work. if the dole bludgers would get off the couch! then it would be ok.