According to an Edith Cowan University (ECU) report released recently, unrealistic pay demands from Australian workers and gaining a competitive edge in the resources sector were two of the prime reasons smaller firms in the WA resources industry are using 457 visas.
Smaller firms in Western Australia are unable to find domestic workers and so turn to 457 visas to fill skill gaps.
The report found that while Australian workers still made up the majority of those employed in smaller firms in the resources sector, 457 visas were being used to access needed skills, despite the prohibitive cost.
Furthermore, the ability to employ skilled migrants meant these smaller firms were able to compete for contracts they could not access previously.
Smaller firms were able to gain a competitive edge and grow their business by employing specialised workers, who were often not available locally.
The study found that the skills shortage was putting several participating firms at risk, however the use of 457 visas has allowed them to reverse that trend and in most cases grow their business.
This Article Researched by Mani. Follow Mani on Google+
