
The Western Australian and federal governments have reached an agreement to allocate 10,000 skilled migration places to Western Australia for the 2024-25 period.
This deal aims to address critical skills shortages in industries such as construction and healthcare while boosting the state’s economy and residential construction sector.
Under the new agreement, the migration places will be divided between two programs:
- State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP): 5,000 places
- WA Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA): 5,000 places
The SNMP allocation represents a significant increase from the previous year’s 2,350 places.
This program allows the state government to set its own priorities for skilled migration and nominate eligible migrants that meet Western Australia’s specific skills needs.
The newly established WA DAMA will provide 5,000 migration places, equally split between metropolitan and regional employers.
This agreement is designed to help employers attract and retain skilled workers in key areas of demand, including:
- Building and construction
- Health and aged care
- Tourism and hospitality
- Agriculture
WA Premier Roger Cook emphasised the importance of this agreement, stating: “We are committed to continuing to create quality local jobs for local people, but to keep our economy strong and build homes we need to bring in skilled workers.”
Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk highlighted the significance of the deal, stating: “Securing places for 10,000 skilled workers will help us fill the many positions that can’t be filled locally. Skilled migrants are needed to meet immediate labour shortages.”
While the focus remains on training local workers through initiatives like fee-free TAFE courses, this agreement with the federal government recognises Western Australia’s unique position and the need to attract in-demand workers through various channels.
The increased migration allocation is expected to support the state’s ongoing economic growth and help address the pressing need for more housing construction.