Key Takeaways

• Immediately in the 2021 post-Covid era, the number of international students fell by 17% to 570,626. During the period January-May 2022, there were a total of 469,248 international students in Australia. That figure represented an 11% decline from the previous year's period. This shows that the number of foreign students in Australia has been on a downward trajectory post-pandemic due to prolonged border closure during the global pandemic, which lasted till late 2021. Despite being Australia's leading contributor of foreign students, China contributed only 131,442 students in 2022, down from 166,319 in 2021.
• According to research, 79% of the 43% of international students who chose to stay back upon graduation get employed within 3 years following their graduation. For instance, international students who graduated with a postgraduate coursework degree have a 41.4% chance of getting employed in Australia, compared to a 62% chance overseas.
• Research indicates that 50% of foreign students often travel back to their country of origin after graduation. Whereas 4% of international students move to other countries upon graduation, 43% stay in Australia following graduation. Thus, it can be assumed that the percentage of international students that are seeking employment in Australia is estimated to be around only 43% or less.

Introduction

Employment Landscape in Australia

I-Number of International Students in Australia

• During the period January-May 2022, there were a total of 469,248 foreign students in Australia. That figure represented an 11% decline from the previous year's period.

 

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• The above figure is close to IBIS World's forecast, which indicated that there would be roughly 521,460 international students in Australia by 2022. This forecast was made in anticipation that the number would decrease by 6.5% during 2022 due to prolonged border closure during the global pandemic, which lasted till late 2021.

 

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• For comparative purposes, it is worth acknowledging that immediately post-Covid era in 2021, when Australia’s international borders were just opened, the number of foreign students fell by 17% to between 557,836 and 570,626. This shows that the number of foreign students in Australia has been on a downward trajectory post-pandemic.

 

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• Despite being Australia's leading contributor of foreign students, China contributed only 131,442 students in 2022, down from 166,319 in 2021.

 

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II-Percentage of International Students Seeking Employment in Australia

• Research indicates that 50% of foreign students often travel back to their country of origin after graduation.
• At the same time, 4% of international students move to other countries upon graduation.
• Further research shows that only 43% stay in Australia following graduation. Thus, it can be assumed that the percentage of international students that are seeking employment in Australia is estimated to be around only 43% or less.

III-Job Prospects of International Students in Australia

• According to research, 79% of the 43% of international students who chose to stay back upon graduation get employed within 3 years following their graduation.
• Despite specific-country variations, foreign graduates who remain in Australia upon graduation have a lower full-time employment rate than international graduates who choose to seek employment overseas. For instance, international students who graduated with a postgraduate coursework degree have a 41.4% chance of getting employed in Australia, compared to a 62% chance overseas.
• These findings are echoed by an immigrant from Bangladesh, Moin Rahman — a qualified civil engineer graduate of the University of Queensland, who couldn't find a full-time position even after applying for over 80 jobs.
• However, when they secure one, the likelihood of an international graduate finding a job commensurate to their qualification is quite low. For instance, Geoff Maslen indicates that "among those working full time, 31% reported that their job did not fully utilize their skills or education — compared with 29% of domestic undergraduates."

IV-Factor Hindering the Prospects of International Students in Australia

•  Temporary visa status is a major factor hindering the prospects of international students in Australia.

• Audrey Courty notes that "some employers are confused about the temporary visa rules." International graduates feel 'unappreciated' as their long-term prospects are hardly supported beyond recruitment.
• There is a significant salary gap between international undergraduates and locals in full-time employment, which hinders the prospects of foreign graduates in Australia. For instance, international undergraduates on full-time jobs earn $7,600 less than their domestic counterparts in a year.

Research Strategy