According to The Daily Telegraph, in 2009 Australia was set to accept about 190,000 immigrants – 20% more than in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. This is the highest figure since 1970, when just over 185,000 foreign workers entered the country.
At the same time, due to job cuts in 2010, the country is expected to have a 7% unemployment rate, which significantly reduces the need for foreign labor. Trade unions have already demanded that the government remove from the list of professions for immigrants some specialties for which there are enough qualified specialists on the domestic market.
As Lenta.ru notes, in recent years Australia experienced a shortage of skilled workers, so labor immigration programs were constantly expanded. The decision to reduce quotas was taken for the first time in eight years.