Australia cuts skilled migrant intake

In response to rising unemployment, the Government will cut the skilled migrant intake by nearly 20,000 to 115,000 this financial year.

Building and manufacturing sectors have been removed from the critical skills list, forcing companies to find bricklayers, plumbers, welders and carpenters locally.

Employers can still sponsor migrant workers privately or through the 457 visa scheme, provided they can prove local labour is not available.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/migrant-cut-could-cost-jobs-20090316-8zmt.html?page=-1