The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has today released, for the first time in six years, changes to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

ANZSCO skills levels are an important factor in how the Australian Government determines eligibility for its various skilled migration programs, including the short and medium-term streams within the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482).

Eligible occupation lists for the subclass 482 streams are reviewed by the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business every six months.

With the next review due to commence in March 2020, ANZSCO changes announced today could see certain occupations become more or less accessible for employers seeking skilled migration to fill skills shortages.

Most of today’s changes relate to either moving the indicative skill level up or down one level, while some occupations have retained their indicative skill level but a note has been included to acknowledge that some roles in that occupation are at a higher level.

Notable observations for key resources and energy industry occupations include:

• Three occupations under the Marine Transport Professionals category (Ship’s Engineer, Ship’s Master, Ship’s Officer) appear to be revised down from a level 1 skill level (requiring bachelor degree or 5 years’ experience) to level 2 (diploma or 3 years’ experience);
• Some classifications under the Machinery Operators and Drivers category have been revised upward from skill level 4 (requiring certificate II or III) to skill level 3 (requiring certificate IV to V, or two years’ on the job training); and
• Other mining occupations are listed as having been revised but appear to have retaining their existing skills level rating, including Driller (level 4), Other Mobile Plant Operators (level 4) and labourer (level 5).

Other changes relate to updating registration and licensing requirements for some occupations; updating specialisations, alternative titles and example occupation titles in Not Elsewhere Classified (nec) categories; and removal of instances of (Aus) or (NZ) which follow some occupation titles, where removal is not likely to cause confusion.

The full list of ANZSCO changes can be found via the ABS website (visit “downloads” and then the spreadsheet “what’s new”).

AREEA will monitor any potential changes to the eligible occupations lists for Australia’s skilled migration programs, and consult with members as necessary. Contact [email protected] with any comments, concerns or queries.