New Core Skill Occupation List and the Business Opportunities for 2025

Healthcare, engineering, technology, education and trade are some of the major sectors with a variety of occupations listed in the new CSOL, which replaces the previous, more complex occupation lists to streamline the temporary visa program for skilled and in-demand workers.

A modernised Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) has been introduced, replacing previous lists such as the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL), or the Regional Occupations List (ROL).

Employers in high-demand sectors—including construction, cyber security, agriculture, health, and education—can now access a broader pool of skilled workers eligible for PR.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1 million people arrived on permanent skilled visas, temporary skilled visas and temporary work visas until August 2024, this represents 12% of the 14.4 million people in employment. However, the problem is a lack of qualified and suitable candidates for jobs, according to an analysis by The Guardian Australia.

“Just over 39% of jobs with “skill level 1” (which requires a bachelor’s degree or higher) have skills shortages, while jobs with a “skill level 3” (which requires a trade certificate with at least two years of on-the-job training) are very much in need of workers.”

With the new Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), a wide range of occupations will support companies in various fields to strengthen their business in Australia.

The advantages of the new CSOL to business

Without a list of long-, medium- and short-term skilled occupations, any company that needs to hire workers for roles on the new list of 456 occupations can now apply for skilled worker sponsorship.

This list leads to the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa, which replaced the Temporary Skills Shortage visa (subclass 482) on 7 December 2024. In addition, the CSOL applies to the Direct Entry stream of the Employer Nominee Scheme Permanent Visa (subclass 186).

Both visas give the holder 4 years of full working rights and a direct path to permanent residency, ideal for full-time roles with short to long-term business objectives. 

Featured Occupations

The CSOL features a diverse range of professions including but not limited to:

• Healthcare and social professionals: Registered nurses, general practitioners, medical specialists, midwives and allied health professionals. Also, dietitian, orthoptist, pharmacist, dentist, psychotherapist. Social professionals as community workers, family support workers, residential care officers, and youth workers.
• Engineering roles: Civil, mechanical, electrical and mining engineers, as well as engineering technologists.
• Technology specialists: ICT business analysts, systems analysts, software engineers, cyber security engineers and data scientists.
• Education specialists: Early childhood, primary and secondary school teachers, along with vocational education teachers.
• Construction and trade professionals: Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, metal fitters, machinists and bricklayers, gasfitters, Construction Project Managers, Project Builders, Painter.
• Hospitality: Chef, cook, hotel or motel manager, licensed club manager, hospitality, retail and service managers, baker, pastry cook, butcher or smallgoods maker.
• Communication: Program director (television or radio), stage manager, technical director, video producer, journalist for print, radio, television, writers, marketing specialist, content creator (marketing), public relations professional and cinema or theatre manager.
• Sports and wellbeing: Massage therapist, diving instructor (open water), other sports coach or instructor (wushu martial arts coach or yoga instructor only), sports development officer, recreation officer/ recreation coordinator.

Requirements to be considered a professional under the CSOL

According to the Immigration Department, employers may sponsor qualified workers who, in addition to being in one of the occupations on the main list, also have at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field.

The work candidate must complete the skills assessment required for his or her occupation and must be working for the sponsor or associated entity. Minimum English proficiency standards are also required in most cases.

The Core Skills pathway is for occupations that earn a median salary above $70,000 and below $135,000.

Despite the good news with the unified list, employers in essential areas such as housing construction may question the absence of some essential functions such as machine operators and specific professions.

Seven Corp can fully support your business in navigating the new Australian Government changes and how to make the most of the Essential Skills Occupations List released according to your business needs.

To understand more about the opportunities these changes can bring to your business, contact our Seven Corp specialists for a free consultation.

Email employer@sevencorpcom.au
Phone number: 1300 157 707