Businesses in regional South Australia are struggling to find skilled workers due to changes to the General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa program. The South Australian government reduced the number of state nominations from 8,800 to 2,300, which has made it more difficult for businesses to recruit workers from overseas. This is particularly challenging for sectors such as hospitality, tourism, aged care, and the automotive industry.
One business owner, Hafeez Ullah, has three chefs whose visas are expiring in February. He has been advertising for replacements for over two months but has not received a single applicant. Ullah is urging the government to make changes to the visa program to help businesses find the workers they need.
Skilled Migration Visa Changes, Impact on Regional Businesses, Australian Immigration Challenges, SA Business Concerns, Workforce Development Issues