Australia's Most Sponsored Occupations: What the Data Shows

One of the most common questions employers ask before starting the sponsorship process is whether their industry actually uses it. The answer, for most sectors, is yes, and in larger numbers than most people expect.

The Department of Home Affairs publishes regular data on visa outcomes. The most recent report, covering the first half of 2025/26, gives a clear picture of where employer sponsorship is actively being used.

The most frequently sponsored occupations

In the first six months of 2025/26, the occupations with the highest number of Skills in Demand and Temporary Skill Shortage visa grants were:

Across all occupations, 34,365 primary visas were granted in just those six months.

The hospitality numbers are striking

Chefs stand out not just in volume but in growth rate. There were 6,361 chef grants during all of 2024/25, compared with 2,279 in 2023/24, an increase of 179 percent in a single year.

For hospitality employers, this reflects a reality many already know: finding experienced kitchen staff through local recruitment alone remains genuinely difficult, and sponsorship has become a standard workforce strategy in the sector, not an exceptional one.

Healthcare is equally significant

The figures for healthcare occupations tell a parallel story. General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers are the second most sponsored occupation nationally. Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers grew from 457 grants in 2023/24 to 1,339 in 2024/25. Child Carers increased by 247 percent over the same period.

For healthcare and aged care providers, sponsorship is not a last resort. It is a structural response to shortages that are not resolving through local recruitment.

What does this mean for employers?

Appearing in this data does not make a role automatically eligible for sponsorship. Every employer still needs to meet the requirements applicable to their specific business, position, and candidate.

But the data answers the question employers most often ask first: are other businesses in my industry actually doing this?

For most sectors represented here, the answer is clearly yes.

Frequently asked questions

Does my occupation need to appear in this data to qualify for sponsorship?

No. This data shows grant outcomes for the most active occupations, not the complete list of what is eligible. The eligible occupation lists for each visa are the relevant reference.

How often is this data updated?

The Department publishes administration reports periodically. For the most current figures, the Department of Home Affairs website is the primary source.

Book a free assessment with Seven Corp to confirm whether the offered occupation is eligible for sponsorship and which pathway applies.