![\"Labor's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/080f8b3b98bb4676d1dca94cdf0552dc.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nLabor\u2019s skilled migration system has been exposed after new analysis revealed that less than half of people granted visas last financial year were primary applicants assessed for their skills.<\/p>\n
Research by the Institute of Public Affairs has found that of the 185,001 permanent visas granted during 2024-25, a total of 132,148 were issued through the skilled migration stream.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, only 60,474 visas were granted to primary applicants assessed as skilled workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The remaining visas were issued to partners, spouses and children who\u00a0accompanied\u00a0those migrants to Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over the five years to June 2025, visas approved for family and other dependants totalled 594,470, of which 307,575 were chain permanent migrants under the skilled category.<\/p>\n
IPA research fellow Kevin You said the figures raised serious questions about how the program was presented to the public.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe federal government\u2019s misleadingly named Skilled Migration Program is just a visa approvals target that clearly prioritises chain migration over skilled migration,\u201d Mr You said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government\u2019s mass migration program has inflicted serious economic and social harm on mainstream Australians, all while telling them\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0to help the economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFederal governments, under both major parties, have misled Australians into thinking that we have a skills-first migration system.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt helps explain why no matter how much migration is increased our workforce is not getting any more skilled or productive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the program covers traditional shortage areas such as medicine,\u00a0engineering\u00a0and construction trades, it now includes 456 occupations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The list extends to professions including graphic designers, actors, advertising managers, public relations\u00a0advisers\u00a0and interior designers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One Nation says the latest figures showed the skilled migration program was failing to deliver what Australians had been promised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The data confirms what has been known for some time: Labor’s immigration policy does not work in the national interest,” a One Nation spokesperson told SkyNews.com.au.<\/p>\n
“It is not designed to meet our skills shortage, and only makes Australia’s housing crisis worse.”<\/p>\n
The debate follows broader concerns about migration settings and population growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data<\/a> showed Australia\u2019s population increased by 412,500 people over the year to reach 27.8 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n Net overseas migration accounted for the overwhelming majority of that growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Albanese government has repeatedly pointed to declining migration levels since the post-pandemic peak and argues its strategy is working.\u00a0<\/p>\n