February SkillSelect Update
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.
