February SkillSelect Update

Chefs doubled their invitation numbers this round

A Total of 1500 invitations were issued in the February 2020 round, with a small increase to 500 invitations sent for the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Family Sponsored) visa.

The minimum points score remained steady at 90 points for Subclass 189 visas, though dropped to 85 points for the 491 Family Sponsored visas.

Pro-rata occupations:

Due to high levels of demand, certain occupations are issued invitations on a pro-rata basis. Places are first allocated to 189 EOIs, with remaining places issued to the 491 Family Sponsored EOIs.

The scores for the 11 February 2020 round pro-rata occupations were as follows:

Occupation ID Description Minimum Points Score Latest date of EOI
2211 Accountants 95 (SC189) 17/05/2019 9:21am
2212 Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers 95 (SC189) 01/12/2019 3:57am
2334 Electronics Engineer 90 (SC189) 16/11/2019 7:32pm
2334 Electronics Engineer 85 (SC491) 22/12/2019 10:06pm
2335 Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers 90 (189) 17/09/2019 2:06pm
2339 Other Engineering Professionals 90 (SC189) 11/11/2019 4:19pm
2611 ICT Business and System Analysts 90 (SC189) 07/11/2019 7:50pm
2613 Software and Applications Programmers 90 (SC189) 16/11/2019 9:23pm
2613 Software and Applications Programmers 85 (SC491) 06/01/2020 11:07pm
2631 Computer Network Professionals 90 (SC189) 16/11/2019 3:07pm
2631 Computer Network Professionals 85 (SC491) 03/01/2020 10:24pm

Which occupations received the most invitations?

Software and Application Programmers again topped the list with 288 invitations. Civil Engineering Professionals were next, with less than half this number on 116 invitations, closely followed by Accountants with 113.

Registered Nurses, ICT Business and Systems Analysts, Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists, and Computer Network Professionals each obtained at least 100 invitations this round.

Chefs more than doubled their numbers with 26 invitation issued in February, with only 16 invitations issued between July 2019 and January 2020.

Interesting occupations to receive at least one invitations in February include Land Economists and Valuers, Environmental Scientists, and Electronic Trades Workers.

Our Advice

As there is still a high level of competition for 189 visa invitations, we have seen more interest in the Subclass 190 and 491 State Nominated visas. These generally do not require the same level of points to be eligible for state sponsorship, and with preference for onshore visa applicants currently working in Australia, it is a very good option for Graduates and other temporary visa holders.

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