Securing skilled work and permanent residency in Australia is proving to be difficult for an unprecedented number of recent temporary graduates. Examine the effects and possible remedies.

An increasing number of temporary graduates are finding themselves in a vulnerable situation where they are unable to obtain skilled job or permanent residency, which is posing a challenge to Australia’s immigration environment. Intense scrutiny is currently being directed towards the temporary graduate visa system, which was intended to provide overseas students with a means of bridging the gap between employment and permanent residency.

In the past, the temporary graduate visa program has prospered when graduates entered skilled positions and eventually gained permanent status. But the reality of today presents a different image.

The number of people on temporary visas decreased at first as a result of the pandemic and the border closures that followed, but this trend was not sustained. The number of temporary graduates increased to an astounding 216,494 by 2024, primarily due to an increase in international student arrivals following reopening and students who stayed until COVID-19.

However, for many, this rise has not resulted in effective transitions. There is a backlog of about 300,000 bridging visas, which means that many temporary graduates are stuck in the middle. Just approximately 32,000 people were able to obtain permanent residency in 2022–2023, despite a strong labor market and an extended migration program.

With 700,000–800,000 students enrolled in Australian universities, the number of temporary graduates is expected to increase. It’s possible that recent policy adjustments—like lowering the 50-year-old maximum age for temporary graduate visas to 35—won’t be enough to stop this trend.

With few options remaining, many graduates may choose to leave Australia because of a weak labor market, or they may accept any job—even one with abusive conditions—out of desperation to stay in Australia.

The Australian government is faced with a difficult decision. It appears unlikely that the immigration program will be expanded any more, especially since the political opposition is calling for reduction. Restricting student visas, on the other hand, might cause a lot of opposition. It is important to balance these obligations.

Making sure that international students are enrolled in top-notch courses that satisfy the demands of Australian companies must become the primary focus in order to effectively address these problems. A more sustainable way forward might also involve modifying temporary graduate visa regulations to better suit long-term demand in vital professions rather than easily available courses.

In order to provide temporary graduates with an equitable and efficient means of making a significant contribution to the country’s economy and society, Australia’s immigration laws must change to meet these mounting problems.