Ai Group Asks Australia to Keep Skilled Migration Steady: A Plain Guide for Job Seekers
News · 2026-08-25 · 4 min read
There is a new and important voice in Australia's talk about skills shortages. The Australian Industry Group, also called Ai Group, is one of the most influential employer associations in the country. It has now given its formal view on skilled migration. The main idea is easy to remember: do not lower the intake, make the system work better.
The Inquiry Behind This News
Ai Group shared its views in a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration's inquiry into the value of skilled migration. Ai Group's chief executive, Innes Willox, said businesses need a migration system they can predict. In his view, the system should not change with politics. He named the sectors that keep modern Australia running: housing, infrastructure, manufacturing, health and aged care. He said these sectors cannot work without migrant talent, because local training is not producing enough workers fast enough to fill the roles.
This is not only comment from industry. It shows where policy pressure is likely to go over the next 12 months. That matters for businesses that hire from overseas. It also matters for skilled workers who hope to build a life in Australia.
What Ai Group Wants Changed
The submission contains 4 key requests. Here they are in simple words.
Request 1: keep intake numbers as they are. Ai Group is not asking for more places. It is protecting what already exists. It wants permanent skilled migration to stay at current levels. The reason is clear. In construction, energy and care, there are still more vacancies than local workers. Any cut could slow down big projects that are already in progress.
Request 2: make it easier to get qualifications recognised. Employers and migrants often complain about this. Getting overseas qualifications and licences accepted in Australia can be slow, and the process is not always consistent. Ai Group wants a simpler process, especially for occupations with critical shortages. This would shorten the time between a visa grant and the day a migrant actually begins work.
Request 3: faster and more stable visa processing. The submission points to two programs in particular. These are the Skills in Demand visa and the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme). Delays in these programs are causing real uncertainty for businesses. Many employers plan their staffing months ahead. When they cannot predict how long a visa will take, the damage can be as serious as a skills shortage.
Request 4: explain the value of migration to the public. This may be the most interesting idea. Ai Group wants a proper communication plan. The goal is to show ordinary Australians how skilled migration supports the essential services, housing and infrastructure they use every day. Industry knows that public opinion, not only policy design, shapes how much migration politicians will accept.
A Hot Topic in Canberra Right Now
This submission arrives at a sensitive time. Migration numbers are a hot political topic. Some people want a lower intake as a way to make housing more affordable. Ai Group directly disagrees with that view. It argues that cutting skilled migration would make the pressure worse, not better. It says housing delivery, infrastructure timelines and business investment would all suffer.
The message for migration agents, employers and future applicants is the same. The debate over Australia's skilled migration settings is far from finished. Committee hearings in the coming months could affect visa processing times, occupation lists and sponsorship pathways for years.
How to Stay Ready
Nobody knows the final result yet, so focus on what you can control. If you are searching for jobs in Australia for Indonesians, prepare an English-language CV now. Check whether your visa or employer needs an English test such as IELTS or PTE. Workers from every country can take the same steps. Then keep following official updates as this inquiry moves forward.
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