| Immigration is vital to Australia's economy and now | | | | high degree, while only 17.5 percent say that they can't |
| accounts for more than half the country's population | | | | speak English well or at all. |
| growth, said a recent report. | | | | In a statement, Immigration Minister Chris Evans says |
| The report, called, "The Population Flows - Immigration | | | | that immigration is vital for Australia's economy: |
| Aspects", and which has been released by the | | | | "Fifty-six percent of the growth that's occurring in our |
| immigration Department has confirmed that record | | | | population is coming from immigration, that's largely |
| numbers - 50,000 to be exact - of skilled workers | | | | driven by the demand for skills, filling the needs of the |
| migrating to Australia have helped make immigration | | | | economy." |
| account for more than half of the country's latest | | | | "That's a good thing because they're allowing our |
| population growth. About 50,000 skilled workers | | | | economy to grow as they contribute to that growth |
| migrated here in the past financial year, Last year June, | | | | and development." |
| Australia's population has grown to a whopping 21 | | | | He added that Australia's migration program had 148 |
| million. | | | | 200 places, the most since the late 1980s, and 3.7 |
| It found that a vast majority of foreign-born Australians | | | | percent more than in 2005-06. The program plans to |
| were born in the UK, and that immigrants from African | | | | place up to 158 800 migrants in 2007-08. |
| nations such as Sudan, Liberia and Sierra Leone are | | | | "The temporary skilled migration program is playing a |
| on the increase. | | | | vital role in addressing the current skills crisis, left by the |
| An interesting factor also making its appearance on | | | | previous government," said the Immigration Minister. |
| this report is the number of languages spoken at | | | | Australia needs skilled migrants! Over 200,000 jobs are |
| home, which has increased. Today, more than 3.2 | | | | advertised each week, and unemployment is at its |
| million Australians speak a language other than English. | | | | lowest level in a decade. The Australian migration |
| The most common language spoken in Australia, other | | | | program offers many different work Visas which |
| than English, is Italian. Other languages that are also | | | | cater to people with different skills and different goals. |
| common are Greek, Cantonese and Arabic. | | | | If you would like to live and work in Australia, find out |
| A vast majority of bilingual or multilingual Australians | | | | for which visa you qualify by doing our free online visa |
| say that they can speak and comprehend English to a | | | | eligibility assessment, which will deliver instant results! |