NSW State Migration Plan
The NSW State Migration Plan sets out priorities for migration, including its important role in meeting skills need in areas of critical shortage. Read about priorities supporting successful outcomes for migrants in NSW.
NSW receives the largest share of national net overseas migration and is home to many of Australia’s migrants.
The first NSW State Migration Plan sets out strategic priorities for migration, including its important role in meeting skills need in areas of critical shortage and in contributing to economic growth and prosperity for NSW.
The Plan also recognises the importance of strong cooperation between the NSW and Australian Governments in meeting those priorities and in supporting successful outcomes for migrants in NSW.
The Plan reflects the NSW Government’s agenda for skills, as demonstrated in the NSW Skills Plan. It is part of the commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and highly skilled workforce, ensuring that NSW remains a leading destination for global talent.
Strategic Overview 2024–28
NSW is home to the largest share of migrants to Australia – this Plan will support migrant success and NSW priorities.
NSW is working with the Australian Government to deliver shared migration priorities through the NSW State Migration Plan. Delivering priorities such as boosting the care economy and building more homes requires the attraction and retention of skilled workers. The NSW State Migration Plan will build on existing programs to support successful outcomes for migrants in NSW.
The Australian Government is responsible for the delivery of the immigration system.
The Australian Government’s Migration Strategy is focussed on getting migration working for the nation. This will be supported by better national system planning informed by this plan.
The needs of the six Critical Skills Areas identified in the NSW Skills Plan are unlikely to be fully met through domestic skilling and can be supported by migration
- Construction (infrastructure and housing)
- Net Zero and Energy Transition
- Care and Support Economy
- Digital and Cyber
- Agriculture and Agrifood
- Advanced Manufacturing.
Region-based skills planning is key to ensuring migration supports regional economies.
Migration also supports our essential education and health workforces.
Attracting and retaining the best and brightest international students across industries enhances the domestic skilling pipeline and boosts local economies.
- Boosting productivity and meeting skills shortages
- Meeting skills shortages in regional areas
- Making the migration system fast, efficient and fair for migrants and sponsors
- Strengthening social cohesion and family reunification
- Addressing long-term demographic challenges
- Improving the coordination of education, training and migration systems
- Attraction, outreach and retention strategies/ engagements
- Consultation with key stakeholders
- Integrating migration planning processes with whole-of-government plans
- Skills assessment and qualification recognition; removal of inappropriate barriers
- Supporting migrants to settle and integrate into communities
- Working together to understand use of visa products to meet jurisdictional or national needs
- Working together on a two-way data sharing capability.