Planning your move to Australia on an employer-sponsored visa? The Department of Home Affairs has just released its March 2025 data, and it’s brimming with good news for skilled workers.
We have highlighted the most important numbers which we believe will interest you:
A bigger program = more seats at the table
- 63,700 applications lodged by March 2025 —53 % more than last year—and 48,350 have been approved so far (+33 %). It’s important to note that the 482 SID visa is not part of the Planning Levels and it’s not a capped Subclass – meaning there isn’t a limit of these visas to be granted in one financial year.
- 110,740 482 visa-holders are now living and working in Australia, up 34 % year-on-year.
What it means for you: more employers already comfortable with sponsorship.
| PRIMARY VISAS GRANTED – TOP THREE OCCUPATIONS % Difference from | ||||
| Nominated Occupation | 2023-24 at 31/03/2024 | 2024-25 at 31/03/2025 | last program year as at 31/03/2025 | 2024-25 as % of total program |
| 351311 Chef | 1,500 | 3,920 | 160.5% | 8.1% |
| 253112 Resident | ||||
| Medical Officer | 2,040 | 2,380 | 17.1% | 4.9% |
| Specified in LA | 1,370 | 1,440 | 5.8% | 3.0 |
PRIMARY VISAS GRANTED – TOP THREE SPONSOR INDUSTRIES BY HIGHEST AVERAGE SALARY
| Nominated Industry | 2022-23 at 31/03/2023 | 2023-24 at 31/03/2024 | 2024-25 at 31/03/2025 | % Difference from last program year as at 31/03/2025 |
| Mining | $152,200 | $152,000 | $156,300 | 2.8% |
| Financial and Insurance Services | $152,300 | $153,000 | $146,100 | -4.5% |
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | $133,900 | $116,900 | $132,300 | 13.2% |
What it means for you: if you have qualifications and recent relevant experience in these fields, you should be approaching employers and be ready to discuss sponsorship.
Trades & technicians are the fastest movers
Approvals for technicians, trades workers and mid-level health/ICT roles leapt 82 % to 9,170.
What it means for you: Australia isn’t just chasing top-tier executives and specialists; solid trade skills are also very much in demand.
Know where the jobs are
Three states show the biggest number of 482 visas: NSW (36 %), Victoria (22 %) and WA (18 %).
What it means for you: targeting employers in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth dramatically widens your chances of getting a job and eventually, sponsorship.
Your pathway to permanent residence stays strong
A massive 75 % of skilled visa-holders who became permanent residents did so through the Employer-Sponsored stream.
What it means for you: saying “yes” to a 482/SID visa offer can still be the quickest on-ramp to an Australian PR visa—provided you plan the transition early with your employer and your Registered Migration Agent.
Five quick tips
- Get paperwork-ready early. Police checks, skills assessments and English tests can take weeks—don’t let admin delays cost you a job offer.
- Tailor your CV to shortage areas. Highlight hospitality, health or trade experience front and centre.
- Show regional flexibility. Willing to work outside the big cities? Target employers outside of the big 3 and you may get lucky.
- Discuss the PR roadmap up-front. Confirm your sponsor is open to transitioning you to a Subclass 186 once eligible.
- Lean on professional guidance. Regulations change fast (the new three-tier Skills-in-Demand visa only launched in December 2024). A registered migration agent can keep your application watertight and can assess your options and create a visa strategy from the start.
Bottom line
Employer-sponsored migration is booming in 2025—especially for cooks, carers, tech-savvy trades and health workers. If you’ve been thinking about making the leap, the data says there has rarely been a better time to start the conversation with a prospective Australian employer (and with us, if you’d like expert help navigating the process).Get in touch via Our Contact Page
