2025 Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL) Review Commences

On 25 August 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) formally commenced the review of the 2025 Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL). This review aims to ensure that Australia’s migration settings remain closely aligned with real labour market needs, address ongoing skill shortages, and provide government with evidence to guide the future direction of skilled migration policy.

What is the CSOL?

The CSOL is developed by JSA through detailed labour market analysis and broad stakeholder consultation. It applies to:

• Skills in Demand (SID) visa (the new employer-sponsored visa that has replaced the 482 program)
• Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry stream)

Unlike previous migration occupation lists, the CSOL is not a capped or prioritised list:

• There is no limit on the number of occupations that may be included;
• There are no caps on the number of SID visas that can be granted for any occupation;
• Visa grants will be driven by employer demand, not by JSA’s priority rankings.

In other words, the CSOL is designed as a broad-based list reflecting national workforce needs, rather than a narrow list of select occupations.

Source: Internet

Assessment Criteria: Two Core Pillars

JSA will assess more than 800 skill level 1–3 occupations for potential inclusion on the 2025 CSOL. The decision will be guided by two key criteria:

1.Occupation Shortage List (OSL)

• Built from in-depth analysis of business recruitment activity;
• Reflects persistence of shortages, recruitment difficulty, and wage trends.

2.Economic data and stakeholder input

• Incorporates labour market and migrant employment outcomes;
• Considers graduate supply from Australia’s education and training system;
• Draws on feedback from employers, unions, industry associations, state/territory governments and migrant workers/jobseekers.

JSA will also consider:

• Whether migrants remain employed in their nominated occupations long term;
• The relative reliance of industries on sponsored skilled visa holders;
• Market salary levels and sustainability;
• Australia’s international trade obligations.

Methodology and Modelling

The CSOL review will be underpinned by JSA’s Migration Labour Market Indicator Model. This framework combines:

• Labour market data, salary benchmarks, and migrant outcomes;
• Stakeholder submissions, surveys, and consultations;
• Alignment with the new OSCA classification system (introduced in 2024, replacing ANZSCO).

The model emphasises evidence-driven analysis and tripartite engagement (government, business, unions), and will continue to be refined.

Implications for Applicants

• Broader scope: Over 800 skilled occupations are under review, spanning health, engineering, construction, IT, education and more.
• Employer-driven: Visa opportunities will follow employer sponsorship demand, not arbitrary caps or rankings.
• Favourable to shortage areas: Roles in healthcare, education, construction trades and cyber security are highly likely to feature on the CSOL and remain well supported.
• Focus on sustainability: Beyond immediate shortages, JSA will assess domestic graduate supply and long-term retention of migrants, to balance workforce needs and avoid oversupply.

The 2025 CSOL review signals a shift towards a demand-driven and more flexible skilled migration system. For graduates, professionals and employers, the CSOL will provide a clearer and more transparent framework to plan study choices, career pathways and migration strategies.

If you have any questions or would like professional assistance, please feel free to contact us at Riverwood Migration (Email: [email protected]). We are committed to providing transparent, expert migration services to help you achieve your dream of moving to Australia.