Australian immigration information platform, Immigration to Australia, recently commissioned a survey to shed light on the best and worst jobs for immigrants in the country. This move comes in light of Australia’s increased immigration intake and its recent ranking as the 13th most expensive destination globally.
The survey questioned a panel of 1,002 Australians, asking them to rank the top three and bottom three industries for immigrants to work in. The results provide an insightful guide for the growing number of immigrants seeking work in Australia, particularly given that a record 900,000 Australians took on a second job last year.
According to the survey, the mining industry, despite its high risk and laborious tasks, was ranked as the best industry for immigrants due to its top-tier average salary of $2,497 per week. Construction and utilities, specifically electricity, gas, water and waste services, were chosen as the second and third best industries respectively.
Interestingly, the age of respondents influenced their perceptions of the best industries. Older Australians were more likely to consider sectors such as mining, construction, professional, scientific and technical services, manufacturing, and health care and social services as better options for immigrants. Younger Australians, in contrast, preferred the agriculture, forestry and fishing, financial and insurance services, and arts and recreation industries.
“While there is some correlation between the best and worst industries and the wages these industries pay, it appears that a good proportion of Australians agree that some high-paying industries are not worth working in due to the difficulty of their job tasks”
— Alon Rajic, Founder & CEO, Immigration to Australia
Geography also played a part in these perceptions. Residents of Western Australia, Queensland, and NSW, which are home to a significant proportion of Australia’s mines, more readily selected mining as a top industry. On the other hand, respondents from Sydney, the country’s financial hub, were more likely to rank financial and insurance services as a top-three industry.
On the flip side, retail trade, accommodation and food services, and arts and recreation services were voted as the worst three industries for immigrants. These industries, which are among the lowest-paying sectors in Australia, were particularly unpopular among younger Australians.
Interestingly, mining proved to be a divisive industry in Western Australia. Despite being voted as the best industry by over half of the state’s respondents, a substantial 35 per cent also ranked it among the worst three industries.
Alon Rajic, Founder and CEO of Immigration to Australia, said, “While there is some correlation between the best and worst industries and the wages these industries pay, it appears that a good proportion of Australians agree that some high-paying industries are not worth working in due to the difficulty of their job tasks. We believe this local insight will prove valuable to the many immigrants moving to Australia this year, who have little understanding of Australian industries, working conditions, and salaries.”
The full results of the survey, including age and state breakdowns, can be found on the Immigration to Australia website.
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