Thousands of skilled asylum seekers remain locked out of the workforce because of federal government policy, according to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, which is urging the Albanese government to reconsider work and study restrictions as the Economic Reform Roundtable gets underway.
The ASRC says the failure to allow people seeking asylum the right to work while their claims are processed is not just a human issue but a missed economic opportunity, with entire industries facing staff shortages while qualified workers are kept on the sidelines.
The organisation estimates over 10,000 people are currently excluded from the labour market due to lack of work rights, though the number could be as high as 26,000. Many of them are qualified in areas under pressure, including aged care, construction, healthcare, education and manufacturing.
“Unlocking this potential is a win-win and common sense—good for people, good for business, and good for the economy,” said ASRC Deputy CEO Jana Favero.
“People want to work and when given the chance, they build businesses, create jobs, and strengthen industries crying out for workers. Currently government policies are intentionally excluding people seeking asylum from fully participating in and contributing to our economy. The roundtable can only be effective and genuine if it considers all in our community.”
Over the past year, 77 per cent of people who found work through the ASRC’s employment program ended up working in one of the top industries identified by Jobs and Skills Australia as being in need of labour.
The issue goes beyond employment. The ASRC says people seeking asylum are also largely blocked from pursuing education and training, despite showing strong interest in helping plug skills shortages. In 2024–25, those supported by ASRC to enrol in study overwhelmingly chose fields such as aged and disability care, healthcare, and early childhood education—sectors all struggling to meet demand.
“The people we work with want to contribute,” said Nina Field, Manager of Humanitarian Services at the ASRC. “Granting the right to work and study would allow thousands of motivated and skilled people who are already here in our communities to enter the workforce. It’s a no brainer.”
The roundtable, which brings together government, business, unions and experts, has been billed as a key moment to address Australia’s structural challenges. But the ASRC says any serious discussion on reform that ignores asylum seekers’ participation is incomplete.
The centre’s push comes amid broader public debate over migration, labour shortages and productivity. While asylum seekers are often viewed through the lens of humanitarian policy, Favero and Field are reframing the issue as a pragmatic economic one.
Their argument is simple: Australia has people ready to work. The government just won’t let them.
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