And, despite moves to cut off welfare payments to some unemployed immigrants, plans are in place to lure more skilled immigrants to Australia, a spokesperson for immigration minister, Phil Ruddock, said.
Some skills gap-filling immigration schemes are tipped to be announced early next year.
The spokesperson said IT skills bode particularly well in an existing government-introduced -points" system, whereby prospective migrants list employment qualifications to earn points. An immigrant is permitted to seek employment in Australia if they reach a set number of points.
Under the -skilled migration program" the government did not place any restriction on numbers of skilled professionals admitted into the country, the spokesperson said.
-The US puts a numeric cap on theirs (skilled migrant program). But ours is demand driven."
That scheme allowed full employment rights to the spouses of skilled immigrants, the spokesperson said.
The Australian program divided participants into two categories: permanent and temporary (up to four years). An increasingly project-driven IT industry meant most immigrating IT professionals were classed as temporary immigrants, the spokesperson said.
