Australia: Draft Core Skills Occupation List for Proposed Skills in Demand Visa Released

On September 16, 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) published the draft Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) targeted for consultation, part of the rollout of Australia’s upcoming Skills in Demand visa reform. The CSOL will be a key component of the new visa framework, particularly for the Core Skills Stream, and is intended to better align migration pathways with real labour market demands.

What’s Changing: From Old Lists to CSOL + OSCA

• The CSOL is being benchmarked against the newer Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) (released December 2024).

• Though OSCA is being used for analysis and consultation, ANZSCO (the older classification) remains officially in use in visa programs for now.

What the Draft List Shows

• Scope: More than 800 skilled occupations (OSCA Skill Levels 1 to 3) are currently under analysis for possible inclusion.

• Categorisation: The draft list divides occupations into groups, such as those the model is confident should be included, those it suggests should not, and many being targeted for consultation.

• Criteria for inclusion include:

  1. Whether the occupation appears on the Occupation Shortage List (OSL), which is informed by data such as business recruitment activity.

  2. Other labor market indicators (wages, domestic graduate supply, retention of migrants in nominated occupations) and stakeholder feedback.

Visa Streams & Salary Thresholds

Under the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa scheme:

• The Core Skills Stream is for occupations on the CSOL, and generally for applicants whose salary falls between certain thresholds.

• For example, in 2024 the Core Skills Stream Salary Threshold was AUD $73,150 per annum.

• Occupations paying above a higher threshold may qualify under the Specialist Skills stream, while those below the lower threshold might be considered under an Essential Skills stream.

What’s Next and Stakeholder Feedback

• The 2025 CSOL draft is open for stakeholder feedback—businesses, industry bodies, unions, state/territory governments, migrant workers, etc.

• The deadline for submissions is mid-late September 2025.

• After feedback and further data analysis, JSA will provide a finalized list, which will then inform the Government’s decisions. The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship will be the decision-maker.

Controversies & Sector Reactions

• Some tradespeople and representatives of the construction industry have expressed concern that many key trades (like bricklayers, painters, roof tilers, etc.) are not yet included in the confident ‘in’ list, but are placed in the “for consultation” category.

• There are debates about how well the draft list reflects urgent labour shortages—especially in housing, construction, and infrastructure—given Australia’s goals (e.g. building new homes) and inflation in construction costs.

Why This Matters

• The move toward the CSOL and the Skills in Demand visa represents a major reform of Australia’s skilled migration system, aiming for simpler, more responsive occupation lists that reflect actual labour market needs.

• For migrants: clarity around which occupations are “in demand,” and thus eligible under different visa streams, helps in planning. For employers: knowing which jobs can be sponsored under which pathway helps with workforce planning.

• The consultation process gives sectors a chance to have their voices heard, especially those concerned about being under-represented in the draft list.

Conclusion

The draft Core Skills Occupation List is a significant step in Australia’s overhaul of its skilled migration programs. While the proposals reflect a data-driven approach to matching migration to skills shortages, there are still questions—especially from industries with urgent workforce needs—about what gets included, and whether the thresholds and classification system (ANZSCO → OSCA) will adequately capture the demand in critical sectors. The consultation period is vital: submissions now may shape the final list, influencing the economic and demographic path for years to come.

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