Two New JSA Reports, Explained Simply: Is Now a Good Time to Work in Australia From Indonesia?
News · 2026-08-25 · 5 min read
Government reports are full of numbers. It is not always easy to see what they mean for your own plans. If you are thinking about a skills-based visa for Australia, two new reports from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) can help. The first looks at the still-new Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. The second looks at how migrants are doing in the job market after they arrive. Together, they give a picture that is cautiously positive. But there are some important points to keep in mind if you are planning a migration move in the second half of 2026.
A Young Visa With an Early Report Card
The Skills in Demand visa started in December 2024. It replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) pathway. The JSA review covers about the first ten months, up to September 2025.
The report is careful, not boastful. The sample size is small. Still, the early signs match what the Migration Strategy wanted to achieve. So the message is not that the visa is fully proven. The message is that its settings seem to be working as planned. This is useful to know before you spend time and money on an application under a fairly new program.
Higher Pay in Sponsored Job Offers
Here is a practical finding. Nominated salaries under the new visa are higher than what applicants received under the old TSS system. Salary thresholds are now indexed, which means they go up every year. This seems to be pushing nominated pay higher in general.
If you are discussing a job offer with a sponsoring employer, talk about this openly. The thresholds do not stay the same. A salary that meets the level today may need to be checked again before a contract is finalised next year.
Which Jobs Are Being Approved
This part of the report helps you assess your own chances. Most Specialist Skills Stream approvals went to managers and professionals. Core Skills Stream grants went mainly to professionals, technicians and trades workers.
In simple terms, the program is doing what it was designed to do. It rewards applicants with higher skills and trade qualifications. That is why your occupation, and how you show it in your application, is one of the most important details to get right. Take care with it, whether you apply yourself or use an adviser.
Another Option: Labour Agreements
Outside the standard visa pathway, JSA saw a clear increase in the use of Labour Agreements. These are special arrangements that employers negotiate when the standard visa subclasses do not suit their workforce needs. Employers and workers in industries that do not fit well with the standard occupation lists should watch this trend. A tailored agreement may open a door that a standard nomination cannot.
Where Jobs Are Growing in Australia
The second JSA report is about the labour market. Overall, it is still strong, although some areas are starting to slow down. Over the year, the biggest employment growth was in Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) and in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services. Health Care and Social Assistance and Education and Training were close behind.
Professionals as a group had the biggest job gains of any occupation category in the year to February 2026. This is helpful if you are choosing which sector to aim for, not only which visa subclass to apply for.
Life After You Land
For migrants who are already in Australia, or who will arrive soon, this may be the most important finding. It is not about visa rules at all. Results are very different from person to person. They depend on skills, English level, work experience and how long the person has lived in the country.
JSA's data shows that female migrants have higher unemployment than male migrants in most states and territories. It also shows that recent arrivals face harder conditions than people who have been there longer. This is not a reason to give up. It is a reason to plan for your first months as seriously as your visa application. That could mean English classes, getting local work experience, or building professional contacts before you arrive.
For Indonesian workers, good early steps include an English-language CV and, if the visa or employer needs one, an English test such as IELTS or PTE. If a police certificate is requested, you can apply for an SKCK from the Indonesian National Police. Get any Indonesian-language documents translated into English as the visa rules require.
How to Use These Reports
On its own, neither report says "go" or "stop". Together, they are a tool for planning. Salary thresholds are changing. Some occupations are clearly preferred. Labour Agreements are growing as another route. The job market is strong, but not the same everywhere.
Whether you are a migrant or an employer, use these numbers as part of your plan, not just as news to read. If you want to work in Australia from Indonesia, check your plan again as migration settings keep changing through 2026.
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