Not enough people to do 'the hard work' if migration slashed, businesses warn
There are divergent views among business leaders, from migrant and non-migrant backgrounds, about the impact of planned immigration cuts and the types of migrants that should be allowed into Australia.
Business leaders warn that a sharp reduction in Australia's migration rate could lead to critical worker shortages across various sectors, including aged care and construction. Leora Healthcare co-CEO Esha Oberoi, for instance, employs nearly 800 people, with 45% on visas, and estimates that a reduction in migration would hinder her ability to source necessary skilled workers.
Metricon CEO Brad Duggan adds that migrants have played an essential role in the Australian housing industry. E-commerce magnate Ruslan Kogan argues that immigration is crucial for building a nation, emphasizing the need to select immigrants based on their skills. While the government projects a decrease in the net overseas migration rate from around 300,000 to 245,000 people, business groups express concern that such a cut could have severe consequences for the economy.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.