457 visa applictions down 43% in one year

catbear

There has also been a very significant drop in the number of skilled Irish granted subclass-457 visas, which allow employer-sponsored workers to live in Australia for up to four years.
In the year to last June, 3,760 Irish workers (along with 2,180 partners and children) were granted 457 visas, down 43 per cent from 6,570 the previous year.

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/generation-emigration/is-ireland-s-love-affair-with-australia-coming-to-an-end-1.2108504

No6

That's not hugely surprising considering mining has taken a serious dip and a lot of associated and dependent industries are slowing too. Then you have WA charging 4k a year for kids in primary school from January this year along with several rants about people on 457's by politicians every time the unemployed figures go up a little!!

mandrake04

I think drop in WHV is down to over saturation of under 30's over the previous years those who were eligible and willing already used up their WHV, reducing the pool of people seeking 457 and the new tightening rules and costs introduced in 2013 further reduced the chances of 'casual' sponsorship that many unskilled relied on.

Also I know a few friends of friends who were on 457s and never managed to secure PR or were ever likely to and eventually just pulled the plug and went home so they could move on with their life.

It is what it is, Australia is not the land of milk and honey for everyone.