Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List

Across two announcements in June and July 2021, the Australian Government has doubled the number of ‘critical occupations’ listed on the PMSOL, bringing the list to a total of 44 roletypes which will receive priority visas when sponsored by an Australian business. While the PMSOL was initially weighted heavily toward medical professions when it was first launched in 2020, these latest amendments now incorporate a much broader range of disciplines.

Skillsets currently accessible through PMSOL include:

• Engineering: Civil, Electrical, Geotechnical, Structural, Mining, Petroleum and Transport Engineers
• IT: ICT Specialist, Multimedia Specialist, Analyst Programmer, Software and Applications Programmers
• Finance: Accountant, Management Accountant, Taxation Accountant, Internal and External Auditor
• Scientific: Medical Laboratory Scientist, Spatial Scientist, Orthotist/Prosthetist and Pharmacists
• Construction: Cartographer and Surveyor

The PMSOL was created in September 2020, initially identifying 17 occupations deemed essential to Australia's COVID-19 economic recovery and therefore eligible for priority visa processing. This list essentially enables the included professions to jump the queue ahead of other existing Australian Government skilled migration occupation lists. 

The initial list was developed under advice from the National Skills Commission and has since been adjusted on four separate occasions. The Government considers the list to be temporary, and as such, the occupations included and the existence of the list itself, could change with little forewarning.