Skilled migrants stuck in traffic as dream jobs go by

BY MICHAEL QUIN

10 May, 2011 11:06 AM

FOUR out of five skilled migrants in Melbourne are unemployed or under-employed, according to a recent survey.

While migrants enter the country with training and skills in highly sought after industries, their lack of local experience stands in the way, Association of Skilled Migrants in Australia committee member Vanessa Lynne said.

Three quarters of those not working in their area of expertise cited lack of local experience as the main barrier.

‘‘They are missing out on jobs because they have no local experience, but they are never going to get it so what can they do?’’ Ms Lynne said.

The survey of 80 skilled migrants was conducted ahead of the organisation’s launch in Brunswick next week.

Preston skilled migrant Natalia Garcia has applied for 17 engineering jobs in the past four months without getting an interview or feedback, despite speaking advanced English and holding an engineering degree and seven years’ industry experience in Colombia.

‘‘We were told Australia was desperate for engineers and that we would find a job in a maximum of two months,’’ Ms Garcia said.

Ms Garcia is working as an office cleaner and said most skilled migrants she knew were doing the same.

Association committee member Walter Villagonzalo, a former skilled migrant, said this under-employment had deep implications.

‘‘We all know there are a lot of taxi drivers with Masters and PhDs but a lot of people are unaware how big the problem is and how it affects people,’’ Mr Villagonzalo said. ‘‘After months of applying and getting nowhere they take whatever unskilled job they can get and that is creating a lot of depression.’’

Over one third of those surveyed said they had low self esteem and 20 per cent claimed to be suffering depression, he said.

Mr Villagonzalo said the Association, launching at Salvation Army in Brunswick, would campaign to raise awareness of the issue and encourage employers to consider hiring skilled migrants.

Immigration department spokesman Sandi Logan said skilled migrant visas were decided on applicants’ skills, English level, experience and employability. He said skilled migrants had access to Centrelink job-hunting services.

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