Numbers of Irish people sponsored in WA last year rose by over 90%

The number of sponsorship visas being granted to Irish nationals has jumped by almost 65 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Department of Immigration.

Some 3,030 Irish people were granted 457 visas in 2010 up to the period of January 31, 2011. This accounted for just over six per cent of all applications in this period.

The four-year 457s are temporary residence visas offered to skilled workers and their dependants who are sponsored by an Australian company.

The latest figures for primary applicants show a hike of 64.8 per cent in the grants of 457 visas to Irish citizens, up to 2050 from 1250 in the same period in 2009/10.

Primary applicants are people who apply for sponsorship for themselves and secondary applicants are those attached to their partner’s application.

New South Wales (790), Victoria (470), Western Australia (440) and Queensland (270) are the states in which most applications were granted.

But WA is the state which has seen the most marked increase in 457 visas granted to Irish citizens. In 2010, grants of sponsorship visas to Irish citizens increased by 92.1 per cent up to 440 grants from the previous figure of 230 in the same period in 2009.

This means Irish citizens accounted for almost a tenth of successful 457 visa grants in WA last year.

The demand for workers in WA is being powered by the ongoing mining boom and the nominated occupations among all granted applications reflects this.

Grants of 457 visas for project administrators, enginerring professionals and management consultants each increased by well over 100 per cent last year.

The state’s professional, scientific and technical industry recorded a 460 per cent jump in the number of workers it successfully sponsored.

Nationally, the department’s figures reveal that the UK continues to account for the largest number of visa grants, accounting for 25.5 per cent of all successful applications last year. Northern Ireland nationals are included in this figure.

Meanwhile, Australia is starting to feel the pinch of a new skills shortage, according to economists. Access Economics, a leading consulting firm, explained in its most recent business outlook report that a continued shortage of workers would limit economic growth over the forthcoming year.

The Australian government will reveal the new skilled migration target in May.

By Luke O’Neill