Australia’s labour market continues to evolve as businesses respond to workforce shortages, changing employment demands, and increased competition for skilled workers across multiple industries.
To support employers and workforce planning discussions, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) released updated Occupation and Industry Profiles. The updated profiles provide current labour market information across occupations and industries in Australia and may assist employers preparing Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) assessments linked to employer sponsored migration.
What the updated profiles include
The updated Occupation and Industry Profiles contain information relating to:
- Workforce demand across occupations
- Projected employment growth
- Industry and regional labour market trends
- Earnings and salary data
- Qualification and skills information
- Workforce demographics and availability
- Industry outlooks affecting recruitment needs
JSA also released updated datasets for both the Occupation Profiles and Industry Profiles, providing more detailed labour market information across a broad range of occupations and sectors.
How the profiles may support AMSR assessments
AMSR assessments require employers to demonstrate that sponsored overseas workers are paid in line with Australian market conditions for equivalent roles in the same location.
For businesses preparing subclass 482 and subclass 186 sponsorship applications, the updated JSA profiles may provide useful labour market context relevant to nominated occupations and industries.
The updated data may assist employers when:
- Reviewing salary benchmarking against current market conditions
- Assessing workforce shortages linked to sponsored occupations
- Identifying recruitment challenges within specific sectors or regions
- Supporting AMSR assessments with broader labour market context
For employers experiencing ongoing recruitment difficulties, the updated profiles may also assist with broader workforce planning and recruitment discussions linked to employer sponsored migration.
The profiles may also assist businesses considering future sponsorship needs by identifying occupations experiencing sustained shortages and projected growth within their industry.
Important considerations for employers
While the updated profiles may provide useful supporting information, AMSR assessments should still be supported by position specific salary evidence relevant to the nominated role and location.
Employers should also ensure salary assessments remain consistent with Department of Home Affairs requirements and broader sponsorship obligations.
Jobs and Skills Australia have advised that the next update to the Occupation and Industry Profiles is expected in November 2026.
How Absolute Immigration can support you
As employer sponsored migration requirements continue to evolve, access to reliable labour market information is becoming increasingly important for businesses sponsoring overseas workers.
Absolute Immigration supports employers with:
- AMSR assessment preparation
- Employer sponsored visa strategy
- Workforce planning considerations
- Salary benchmarking guidance
- Sponsorship compliance support
- Identifying recruitment and labour market risks
For tailored guidance on employer sponsored migration and workforce planning strategies, contact aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com.
