The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has welcomed the release of the Federal Government Migration Strategy.
The new migration strategy will prioritise skilled workers in industries facing long-term labour shortages, including the automotive service and repair sector.
The strategy addresses several concerns the aftermarket industry has raised for years, including complexity and cost, as the sector wrestles with a shortage of 30,000 skilled workers.
Acknowledging the importance of fast, simple pathways for specialised, highly skilled workers, AAAA supports the government’s initiatives to drive innovation in the economy and create jobs for the future.
“We appreciate the government’s commitment to creating regulated pathways for desperately needed workers, maintaining solid relationships with the Pacific region, and establishing a mainstream temporary skills pathway that brings core skills to Australia,” said Stuart Charity, CEO of the AAAA.
“Although migration is not a magic fix for skill shortage, changes to the migration system will greatly benefit many businesses.
“Many of our members have considered sponsoring overseas workers to fill vital skills roles; however, a complex process combined with exorbitant fees for visas and accreditation courses costing some mechanical workshops over $ 20,000 per worker has been a significant deterrent. These costs are something the AAAA believes the federal government should look to lower as part of its Migration Strategy.
“Skilled migration could play a pivotal role in helping build much-needed capacity in the automotive service and repair sector in Australia. We look forward to engaging with the government on how we can best achieve shared goals for the industry and leverage the new migration policy to address the skill shortage in our sector.
Published with permission from AUSTRALIAN WORKSHOP MANAGER www.aaen.com.au
