The Department of Education and Training is responsible for providing advice to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection on the composition of the SOL. The SOL identifies occupations that would benefit from skilled migration for the purpose of meeting the medium to long-term skill needs of the Australian economy.
The suitability of occupations for inclusion on the SOL is assessed through a two-step process. The first step involves identifying occupations that are most susceptible to supply constraints (e.g. due to the time taken to develop necessary skills) and/or most likely to warrant government intervention to address these constraints (e.g. due to the cost of a shortage or the likely impact of supply side policies). The second step involves assessing the medium to long-term skill needs of the economy for each occupation identified in step one, to determine if the occupation would benefit from skilled migration. In general an occupation will satisfy step two if a surplus of skilled workers is unlikely in the medium to long-term. The assessment in the second step is based on a wide range of indicators in addition to stakeholder input.
Further information is available on the methodology used to develop the SOL.
Submissions now open for the 2017-18 SOL update
The closing date for online submissions has been extended to 21 November 2016.
The composition of the SOL is reviewed annually and the process of updating the SOL for 2017-18 is now underway. To help inform its labour market analysis, the Department is seeking expert advice and evidence on the suitability of occupations for inclusion on the SOL. Relevant stakeholders, including representatives of industry, employee, trade and professional organisations are welcome to make a submission from 11 October 2016 until 21 November 2016, using the online submission form. Please provide your submission via this form to ensure all evidence is consistent and comparable across occupations. Attachments may also be added to the online form. Submissions will be published on this website as soon as possible after the closing date, unless requested otherwise.
The 2017-18 SOL will come into effect on 1 July 2017.
2016-17 Skilled Occupations List Review
The review of the 2016-17 SOL was undertaken in late 2015 and early 2016.
The 2016-17 SOL came into effect on 1 July 2016 with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. There are 183 occupations on this list, published at the six digit ANZSCO level.
You can also view submissions for the 2016-17 SOL review
2016-17 flagged occupations
Following each review, there are a number of occupations which are ‘flagged’ for possible removal in the future. Generally, occupations are flagged when there is emerging evidence of excess supply in the labour market. More information on the list of flagged occupations can be found here for 2016-17.
Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List
A separate occupations list, the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List, applies to the Employer Nomination Scheme, State Sponsored Migration, Temporary Business Long Stay (457), and Occupational Trainee visa categories. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection is responsible for the development of that list.
