Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released two new publications – the Australian Labour Market for Migrants report for April 2026 and the 2025 Skills in Demand Report – offering insights into Australia’s labour market conditions, migration trends and the employer-sponsored temporary visa program.
Australian Labour Market for Migrants – April 2026
The Australian Labour Market for Migrants report for April 2026 offers an overview of current labour market conditions, migration trends and workforce outcomes across Australia. The report is designed to support prospective migrants, visa holders, employers and migration professionals in navigating Australia’s evolving labour market landscape.
While the Australian economy and labour market continue to demonstrate resilience overall, the report notes signs of further softening, with trend employment declining over the 12 months to February 2026 in Wholesale Trade, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.
Key findings include:
- Female migrants continue to experience higher unemployment rates than male migrants in all jurisdictions except Tasmania and the Northern Territory
- Net Overseas Migration in 2024-25 was highest in New South Wales and Victoria, and lowest in Tasmania and the Northern Territory
- Australia’s population growth is projected to slow to 1.3% in 2025-26 and stabilise at 1.2% from 2026-27 onwards
The Skills in Demand (SID) Report is prepared in response to the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy. The report analyses the employer-sponsored temporary SID visa program – across the Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement streams – for the period from December 2024 to 30 September 2025, providing data and analysis relevant to migration practitioners and employers operating within the program.
