On 17 May 2010 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced the New Skilled Occupation list (SOL) which is intended to take effect from 1 July 2010.

“The introduction of a new list of occupations is part of a package of proposed reforms that reflects the government’s commitment to a labour market demand-driven skilled migration program” DIAC reported on its site.

The new skilled occupation list reduces the SOL from more than 400 occupations to only 181 with a particular focus on specialised occupations, including: health professionals, engineering occupations as well as IT, accounting and trade occupations being well represented on the new list.

While the new SOL is good news for many, applicants with more general occupations will have to wait and see if their occupation is included on the new State Sponsorship Plans. The States are expected to release details of the occupations which will attract sponsorship in the second half of the year.  It is antcipated that the State Plans will include a more expansive occupation list than the new SOL.