Statistics head notes the cycle of migration has not returned to pre-pandemic pattern
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the latest figures of overseas migration in the financial year of 2022-23, having seen a record high driven by temporary visa holders.
Jenny Dobak (pictured), head of migration statistics at the ABS, said despite the latest figures reaching a new high, the cycle of migration has not returned to the pattern seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between 2022 and 2023, more than 737,000 migrants arrived in Australia, and, from that amount, about three in four were on temporary visas (554,000). Among those who are temporary visa holders, more than half were international students (283,000), making them the most common group. Meanwhile, the number of departures in the same period declined to 219,000 from 223,000 year over year.
“Many potential migrants didn’t come to Australia in 2020 and 2021 because of border closures and other pandemic impacts. During this time temporary visa holders recorded the largest declines in arrivals. In 2022-23 the number of migrants arriving on temporary visas has gone up but the number departing has reduced slightly,” said Dobak.
“Migrant arrivals went up by 73% compared to a year ago. Migrant departures, on the other hand, fell by 2% and are at the lowest level since 2006-07.”
Key findings from the report:
- Overseas migration 2022-23 – net annual gain of 518,000 people
- Migrant arrivals increased 73% to 737,000 from 427,000 arrivals a year ago
- Largest group of migrant arrivals was temporary visa holders with 554,000 people
- Migrant departures decreased 2% to 219,000 from 223,000 departures a year ago.
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