The ANZ job ads index jumped by six per cent in January.

The number of jobs advertised in Australia in January rose by the most in almost two years, new figures show.

The ANZ job ads index increased six per cent in January, easily reversing a 0.9 per cent decline in December, marking the largest rise in job ads since February 2010. It’s expected this will undercut the need for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut interest rates.

According to the index, internet job ads rose by 6.4 per cent in January, while newspaper ads fell 2.6 per cent for the month.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, ANZ head of Australian Economics and Property Research Ivan Colhoun said that if this month’s job ads data can be sustained over the coming months, any rise in unemployment should remain “very modest”.

“Against this local backdrop and that of a persistently weak – but not worsening – global economy, we have forecast that the RBA will need to cut interest rates by 25 basis points in the first quarter, most probably in March,” he said.

ANZ is also predicting that the RBA will its cash rate unchanged at 4 per cent when it meets tomorrow.

Rory Corbett and family lived in Shanghai for a spell.

In our latest installment of Australia and Me we catch up with engineering consultant Rory Corbett, from Cork.

Where are you from in Ireland?
I am from Blackpool on the northside of Cork City.

When did you come to Australia and what brought you here?
I relocated to Sydney in May 2011 with my wife and two young kids on a 457 sponsored business visa. This is our second time escaping the recession. We lived near Shanghai in China for a year from 2009 to 2010, came back to Ireland, realised things were as bad as ever and decided to move somewhere our kids would have a better quality of life and wouldn’t be paying in the future for the excesses of the past for which they bear no responsibility.

What do you do for a living?
I am an engineering consultant. I work in project quality, risk management, commissioning and validation within the biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, nutrition, medical device and engineering procurement and construction management sectors. At present, I work in IT quality systems remediation and good manufacturing practice compliance for a multinational medical device company in Sydney.

Describe (in brief) your career path.
I went to college for eight years. I hold a certificate in applied chemistry from Cork RTC, a B.Sc (Hons) in Geology and an M.Sc in environmental analytical chemistry from UCC. I have worked since 1998 mostly as a self-employed consultant.

Is Australia a good place to pursue a career in your industry?
Yes indeed. If you have any sort of aptitude to hard work you will get on well in Australia. It is a lot easier to secure a senior position in your field than in Ireland. However, it is more difficult here to sell yourself for a position that is not an exact fit for your skill set. I don’t hold an engineering degree and this was never a problem in Ireland as I have a huge amount of industry experience, but you tend to be filtered out of the application process here based on formal qualifications.

What advice would you give someone looking to work and live Down Under?
If you’re emigrating with a family, ship everything in your home, it will save you a lot of money. Don’t expect life to be easy for the first six months or so as you adjust, it’s not all sun and surf. Try to get out and meet new people through playgroups and activities.

What, if anything, do you miss about Ireland?
You don’t see kids playing on the streets here in Sydney like you do in Ireland, the kids miss that. We miss our families, playing cards at Christmas time up at the High House in Blarney Street with my mates, a decent real turf fire, the Irish sense of humour and the slagging. I also miss watching my lifelong passion, Chelsea FC playing football at a decent hour of the day and my many trips to Stamford Bridge on a short cheap hop to London from Cork!

The number of job advertisements placed for November was nominally higher than the same time last year.

The number of job advertisements on the internet and in newspapers remained flat in November, new figures reveal.

According to the ANZ Job Advertisement series, the total number of jobs advertised in Australia last month was at an average of 181,461 advertisements per week, only 0.2 per cent higher than in 2010.

Jobs advertised in newspapers grew by 0.6 per cent in November, but were 15.9 per cent lower than a year ago, reflecting the move towards online advertising.

The number of internet job advertisements were broadly unchanged for the month, but remain 6.6 per cent lower than at its peak in April of this year.

Head of Australian economics and property research at ANZ, Ivan Colhoun, said the current trend rate of employment growth is unlikely to be fast enough to absorb the forecast growth in the labour force.

:: Two speeds

“The negative trend in job advertisements points towards only modest employment gains for the Australian economy over the coming months. As a result, ANZ forecasts the unemployment rate to rise to 5.5 per cent by mid-2012.”

The research also found that the mining states of Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory continued to outperform the more populous states of New South Wales and Victoria.

Mr Colhoun added that as a result, employment growth disparities between states “are to be expected”.

The average number of newspaper advertisements increased by 10.1 per cent from the previous month in Queensland, 4.5 per cent in Western Australia, 2.5 percent in Tasmania and 2.2 per cent in the Northern Territory.

In New South Wales these figures fell by of 2.9 per cent, by 1.7 percent in Victoria, 4.6 per cent in South Australia and 0.7 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Reserve Bank has cut interest rates by 0.25 per cent.

The 25 basis point fall comes on the back of a similar cut last month.  The official interest rate is now 4.25 per cent.

Each 0.25 per cent drop in interest rates slices about $60 off the monthly interest cost of an average Australian mortgage.

The Gorgon Gas fields in Western Australia.

The first batch of trainees have enlisted in Perth as part of an apprenticeship scheme set up by Irish-owned engineering company Kentz.

Kentz has developed the scheme with the Balcatta College of Electrical Training (CET) and successful applicants are enrolled in a Certificate III Electrotechnology.

The company says the course has been designed around a four year apprenticeship with the flexibility to expand the number of participants as the demand for apprentice roles increases.

The scheme involves the trainees getting on-the-job training, ongoing mentoring and a tailored development plan to help them progress in the engineering industry.

“Kentz has operated in Western Australia for 26 years and currently employees in excess of 850 Australian staff in the region. This was a logical step for us to take to support and develop the talent that exists here,” said Brian Kelly, country manager for Kentz Australia.

The course kicked off last Friday with a group of apprentices taking part in a team-building exercise, followed by three day induction which focused on safety, teamwork and reputation.

The second intake begins in the first quarter of 2012.

Kentz has the $2.3 billion contract to work on joint venture with CB&I for mechanical, electrical and instrumentation work on Barrow Island.

Also on its books is a $200 million contract for the telecommunications on island, a $700 million contract for the design and construction of village there and a $170 million electrical and instrumentation construction contract on Pluto LNG (liquefied natural gas).

It means the company has almost $2 billion in contracts on the horizon.

In the year ending December 2010, the company generated revenues of US$1.06 billion and profit before tax of US$67.5 million.

For more information see here.

The Greater Gorgon gas fields contain about 40 trillion cubic feet of gas. (File pic)

Irish workers are being sought to work on the Gorgon gas fields project on Barrow Island, Western Australia.

Recruitment company JobContax is to carry out interviews for foreman and site manager positions in Dublin, London and Manchester in coming weeks.

The list of jobs available on the project can be found here. Interviews will take place in Dublin between November 18 and 25.

The salaries begin at €70,000 with a number of the position descriptions including an offer to cover the cost of relocating to Western Australian. The job advertisements state that JobContax’s client “will arrange a 457 visa for you and your family”.

The announcement has received significant media coverage in Ireland, where the official unemployment rate is 14.4 per cent.

There is a strong Irish connection on the Gorgon gas fields project. In July, Irish oil and gas company Kentz won a US$2.3 billion contract to work on the project.

Dear Paddy Joe,

Your options to look at skilled visas will depend on your experience in formwork carpentry.  Under the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, formwork carpenter is a specialisation of carpenter. With at least three years’ experience as a formwork carpenter it is possible to be sponsored by an employer on a temporary work (457) visa.

From July 1,2011 sponsoring employers must pay a market rate salary above $49,330 a year.

With more than four years’ experience it may be possible to have your skills assessed by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to gain an Australian Qualification Certificate III in your trade.

To apply for a permanent visa directly a migration skills assessment is needed via Trades Recognition Australia. As a first step to having your skills recognised, do a self-assessment with an RTO or at the government’s Trade Set website: http://www.tradeset.com.au/

Be honest with your self-assessment. This step is free, the next stages will cost money. Relatives can be a temporary or permanent employer-sponsor, provided their business has a genuine need for your occupation.

Relatives such as uncles and aunts can also sponsor applicants for the points tested skilled sponsored migration (176) visa. However following migration law changes on July 1, 2011, no points are awarded for sponsorship by a relative. So for this visa type it would appear a relative can no longer add value.

Consider seeking a full assessment and strategy from a registered migration agent before starting any application. Find an agent at http://mia.org.au/

Dear John,
My husband and I are here on a student visa for two years. I’m the student. Our visa allows us to work 20 hours per week when my course is on and any hours during the three months a year holidays. As a heavy goods vehicle driver my husband is struggling to find part-time work. Is there a way to extend his work rights?
Gabrielle

Dear Gabrielle,

Student visas for vocational study such as the popular business or fitness certificates and diplomas (572 visas) or bachelor degree courses (573 visas) have condition 8105 that limits work to 20 hours a week during term time. There are no restrictions on work during the holiday time or after the course finishes. This condition cannot be changed and breaking the work rights could result in your visa being cancelled.

Family members of students who have started a masters or doctorate degree by research can work unlimited hours. Research students can work unlimited hours if they are a PhD or masters student and have submitted their thesis for marking.

Gerard Winston

Where are you from in Ireland? When did you come to Australia and what brought you here?
I’m from Clonskeagh in south Dublin. I arrived in Sydney in August 2010. I ran an advertising business in Dublin and my wife Sarah-Jane ran a florist in Harvey Nichols Dublin. Both businesses were hit by the downturn and we had to make hard decisions.

We closed our businesses and moved to Australia with our five kids (Josh, 11, Matty, 8, Emma-Jane, 7, Anna-Kay, 4, and Andy, 1) for a fresh start.

What do you do for a living?
I’ve set up my own traditional Irish bakery here in Sydney. After noticing there was a shortage of good homemade soda bread here, I started experimenting with my mother and grandmother’s recipes and after six months of research I came up with my freshly made and 100 per cent natural range of Paddy the Baker breads.

Since launching in November 2010, the range is stocked in 12 farmers’ markets and 25 grocers around Sydney and is still growing.

Describe (in brief) your career path.
After I left school I worked for a print company for three years as a sales rep. At 21, I opened my own print business, which I ran for 12 years and then sold to set up a marketing consultancy called Winston Marketing.

Unfortunately due to the downturn, many of my clients had their marketing budgets cut severely and this caused me to shut up shop.

Was it easy to use your Irish experience to get a start in Oz? Having an entrepreneurial background, I think that it has given me the confidence to identify a gap in the Australian market and take that chance to do something I’m truly passionate about.

Is Australia a good place to pursue a career in your industry?
There are two reasons why it’s a very exciting time for the Paddy the Baker brand. The first is the Masterchef effect. People are interested in the food they put in their mouths. They’re looking for good quality, fresh produce and there’s a genuine interest in different produce.

Secondly, like my family, many Irish people are moving out here in the mid- to long-term and they are people of all ages and backgrounds. I think now more than ever people want to see good-quality Irish food, so the need is certainly there.

What advice would you give someone looking to work and live Down Under?
The lifestyle is fantastic and everyone is friendly and encouraging, though entrepreneurs coming out to set up a business here should be aware of the very bureaucratic systems in place; you need to research your business sector and business law very well.

What, if anything, do you miss about Ireland?
Apart from the obvious — missing friends and family — I miss having a pint in a good Dublin pub and a bit of harmless banter!

Dear John,
I have been employing Peter, an Irish lad, on a working holiday visa, for three months. He has asked me to sponsor him so he can keep working here. I’m keen to keep him, but my business hasn’t sponsored anyone before. We are a small business with four employees so I’m not sure I can be a sponsor? Can I sponsor, and what do I need to do to keep Peter?
PJ

Dear PJ,

Employers’ top two options to retain overseas staff are temporary sponsorship via Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS); and nomination for permanent residence via the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS).

Temporary sponsorship visas are becoming increasingly popular with a 39 per cent increase in applications this year and more than 70,000 people currently on 457 visas.

There are three parts to the process.

Firstly, the employer applies to be an approved sponsor. Secondly, the employer applies for the position to be approved.

Thirdly — the final step — the employee applies for the 457 visa.

Approved sponsors need to agree to a number of obligations that are aligned to Australian Fair Work laws.

As a first step in deciding to proceed, employers should be comfortable with the obligation commitments. See them at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/obligations-sponsor

To approve a sponsoring employer, Immigration look to see that the business has a commitment to hiring local labour and the financial capacity to pay for a sponsored employee.

The size of a business is not in itself a deciding factor. However, businesses need to show a track record of training their Australian staff. So to meet the training requirements a business is likely to need at least one Australian resident employee who is receiving training.

The training benchmark immigration use means showing that your business has spent the equivalent of at least 1 per cent of payroll on training in the 12 months before applying.

For a new business, less than 12 months old, a detailed training plan can be used. Training should continue during the sponsored visa period.

Employers then need to look at the position. The duties of the job must align with the duties of an occupation on the Government’s eligible list for 457 sponsorship; available at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/457occupations.pdf

The salary or wage offered must be at market salary rate. This means paying the overseas employee at least the same rate you pay Australian staff in the same position. Or where  no Australian is doing the same job, paying a market rate in the area the business is located.

To be approved, the base rate or guaranteed earnings must be above $47,480 excluding bonus payments or superannuation.

For the final part, the employee needs to have the appropriate level of work experience or qualifications to match the job. This will vary depending on the job offered, usually at least three or five years relevant work history; or a trade or diploma/degree qualification

If you can tick all these boxes, apply as soon as is practical, although Immigration is working on improving time frames, processing can take two months or more.

Consider seeking a full assessment from a registered migration agent before committing. Find an agent at http://mia.org.au/

Dear John,
I have two months left on my working holiday visa but my boss won’t sponsor me. I don’t want to overstay but with lack of work at home I don’t know if I have any choice. I’ve heard that you can get a bridging visa through the Community Status Resolution Service if you’re here illegally. What do you advise?
SP

Dear SP,
Overstaying a visa should be avoided at all costs. Once your visa expires, you become unlawful; you have no work rights and no access to health services. You can be deported and become subject to lengthy bans on returning to Australia. There should be some alternative options, so it’s better to plan ahead.

Don’t wait until your visa is about to expire. Seek early professional advice from a registered migration agent on your options to extend or change visas and set a budget to meet the cost of applying for another visa.

The Community Status Resolution Service (CSRS) is part of the Department of Immigration compliance section. If you become unlawful, contacting CSRS will most likely result in you being issued a Bridging E visa for only a week or two to allow you to leave the country.

Don’t use this as a strategy to stay on past your visa expiry. For anyone who has already overstayed and needs to leave Australia, a bridging E visa allows departure without nasty scenes at the airport. However, the CRSC are not independent migration advisors so you may not be provided with a comprehensive assessment of options.

The CSRS/DIAC website says “We mainly work with people who hold a Bridging E visa (BVE). A BVE provides a temporary lawful status while the person organises their departure from Australia.”

And later: “We also help people who have overstayed their visas, as long as they are willing to come and talk to us and work with us to resolve their immigration status.”
“Resolve their migration status”, for most, will typically mean leaving Australia. People who have overstayed visas have very limited options, but should consider seeking advice from a registered migration agent. Find a registered migration agent at http://mia.org.au/

Hi John,
I started my working holiday visa in October 2010 but had to leave as I was sick. I’m coming back before my visa expires and plan to apply for a second year visa. Can I do some of my regional work past the expiry of my first visa? What is the processing time for a second visa?
Aoife

Hi Aoife, time spent outside Australia during the 12 month WHV cannot be recouped. The first visa will expire 12 months after you first entered Australia. Your regional work must be completed before the first visa expires.

If applying in Australia you must apply before the current visa expires but you can apply after you leave Australia. Just don’t overstay the first one. If the new application has all the necessary documents, processing should take a few days. http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/