2025 was a big year for migration and international talent mobility, with visa reforms and new initiatives to increase access to global talent markets being introduced in Australia.
For employer clients of The Migration Agency, change has created new opportunities to address critical skills shortages and build a more sustainable and future-focused workforce.
Here’s our roundup of this year’s shifts in employer demand, migration regulations and globally minded talent solutions.
Global skills shortages deepened in 2025
Across healthcare, aged care, construction, engineering, tech and professional services, skills shortages are not cyclical; they are structural. Finding qualified, work-ready individuals is a challenge for a large percentage of the developed world.
According to the 2025 ManpowerGroup Global Talent Shortage Survey, 74–77 per cent of employers worldwide reported difficulty filling positions due to a lack of suitable talent. Meanwhile, figures show 29% of assessed occupations in Australia are currently experiencing shortages.
The biggest gaps in Australia span frontline care sectors such as healthcare and aged care, as well as IT, engineering and skilled trades. This has put pressure on employers already struggling under challenging regulatory and economic conditions, and prompted many to explore immigration as a genuine long‑term solution.
Australia’s visa program remains stable
Recognising the impact local skills shortages have on the entire population, the Australian Government rolled out substantial visa reforms late in 2024, which came fully into effect in 2025. These changes saw the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa replaced by the new Skills in Demand visa, and the list of eligible occupations for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry permanent residency visa double.
In 2025 and throughout 2026, the Department of Home Affairs has reiterated its commitment to “advancing Australia’s economic prosperity through the facilitation of legitimate trade, travel and migration.” The 2025–26 permanent Migration Program (Migration Program) is set at 185,000 places and aims to supplement Australia’s working-age population by boosting participation rates and the size of the labour force, with approximately 71% of permanent visas being issued through the skills stream.
While the stability of Australia’s visa programs for temporary and permanent residents makes planning ahead easier, understanding visa rules and requirements can still be overwhelming. This is why employers who need fast, smooth outcomes partner with migration specialists like The Migration Agency.
Special migration streams, protection visas and international partnership trends
2024 saw the introduction of the National Innovation Visa (NIV), a permanent visa for established and emerging leaders with high-calibre talent and skills who can make significant contributions to benefit Australia’s future prosperity. The NIV reflects a push to source talent beyond traditional employer‑sponsored roles.
In 2025, insights show thousands of Expressions of Interest have been received for this visa, but only a limited number of individuals have been invited to apply. For example, from July to September 2025, 1841 Expressions of Interest were submitted, but only 122 invitations were issued. The sectors in which successful applicants work in include critical technology, renewable and low emission technologies, the health industry, defence and space capabilities, sports and the arts.
Family & Domestic Violence Protections
Another visa update protects individuals who are relying on a partner to be in Australia but are experiencing domestic violence. With reports showing women on temporary visas face disproportionately higher levels of abuse tied to their migration status, the Department of Home Affairs has introduced changes to migration law to protect visa holders whose visa status depends on them being in a relationship. There are now pathways for permanent visa applications in circumstances where the visa applicant claims family violence has occurred. You can read more on this subject here.
Strategic international workforce pathways more accessible
Finally, initiatives like The Migration Agency’s Kerala Australia Skills Partnership (KASP) are delivering win/win outcomes by matching skilled overseas workers from Kerala in India with Australian employers who are committed to supporting new arrivals and their families as they adjust to a new environment and culture. The KASP program is intended to help future-proof Australian employers by creating ready-to-go talent pools of skilled talent.
What’s coming next for migration in Australia?
Talent shortages are likely to remain in 2026 as demand continues to outstrip supply. For example, KPMG’s aged care market analysis found the last twelve months saw a 6.6% increase in people accessing home care packages. Meanwhile ‘daycare droughts’ are forcing families to leave small towns because not enough individuals work in childcare.
Sourcing international team members is a solution for employers of almost any size. Looking to 2026, there is little indication of another wave of major visa reform, and employer‑sponsored migration programs appear set to remain stable. This means employers seeking to sponsor overseas talent have the breathing room to develop a long-term strategy without worrying about sudden changes to rules and requirements.
At The Migration Agency, we also expect to see more regional employers leveraging the DAMA, which allows them to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for jobs they can’t fill locally, or negotiating company-specific labour agreements, and helping in niche talent not on the Skills in Demand list to migrate to Australia.
Over the next 12 months, organisations looking overseas to fill talent gaps have the potential to save money and expand their workforce in order to meet minimum staffing requirements and scale. There will be a focus on international workforce as a solution to drive greater business financial performance and profitability, and accountability regarding the return on financial investments made into workforce. This is all made possible with the help of a team of migration experts who go beyond basic recruitment and visa applications to provide a holistic service which includes talent mapping and long-term strategy.
Is your business looking for help to plan your global talent strategy in 2026? Book a consultation with The Migration Agency today.
