Update (October 2026)
Australia’s occupation lists have changed many times since this review. Since 7 December 2024 the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) applies to the Core Skills stream of the 482 visa and the Direct Entry stream of the 186 visa, while points tested visas such as the 189, 190 and 491 still use their own lists. See our skilled occupation list page.
Skilled Migration Occupation Lists Review
This does not represent a decision of Government.
Please note: This Traffic Light Bulletin contains all occupations flagged for a change to their status and/or recommended for a salary caveat. If an occupation does not appear on the Traffic Light Bulletin then no change is proposed to the current status of that occupation. Stakeholders may make a submission in relation to any occupation, even if no change is proposed at this time.
Glossary
| Term | Description |
| ANZSCO | Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations |
| STSOL | Short Term Skilled Occupation List |
| MLTSSL | Medium Long Term Strategic Skills List |
| ROL | Regional Occupation List |
Guide to the Traffic Light Colours
| RED | Flagged for removal from the lists |
| ORANGE | Flagged for movement between lists – direction of movement is indicated in the Recommended Status column |
| GREEN | Flagged for addition to the lists |
| ANZSCO code | Occupation Name | Current Status on SMOLs | Recommended Status for Traffic Light Bulletin | |
| 1 | 272111 | Careers Counsellor | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 2 | 324212 | Vehicle Trimmer | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 3 | 342311 | Business Machine Mechanic | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 4 | 361199 | Animal Attendants and Trainers nec | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 5 | 362211 | Gardener (General) | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 6 | 391111 | Hairdresser | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 7 | 394213 | Wood Machinist | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 8 | 411611 | Massage Therapist | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 9 | 411711 | Community Worker | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 10 | 452311 | Diving Instructor (Open Water) | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 11 | 452312 | Gymnastics Coach or Instructor | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 12 | 321111 | Automotive Electrician | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 13 | 321213 | Motorcycle Mechanic | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 14 | 323313 | Locksmith | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 15 | 332211 | Painting Trades Worker | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 16 | 333111 | Glazier | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 17 | 333411 | Wall and Floor Tiler | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 18 | 394111 | Cabinetmaker | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 19 | 142115 | Post Office Manager | ROL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 20 | 312511 | Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson | ROL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 21 | 612115 | Real Estate Representative | ROL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 22 | 234411 | Geologist | STSOL | ROL (ORANGE) |
| 23 | 131112 | Sales and Marketing Manager | STSOL | MLTSSL (with salary caveat of $120,000) (ORANGE) |
| 24 | 135112 | ICT Project Manager (includes Blockchain Planner/Manager) |
STSOL | MLTSSL (with salary caveat of $120,000) (ORANGE) |
| 25 | 224999 | Information and Organisation Professionals nec (includes Data Scientist) |
STSOL | MLTSSL (with salary caveat of $90,000) (ORANGE) |
| 26 | 599612 | Insurance Loss Adjuster | STSOL | MLTSSL (with salary caveat of $80,000) (ORANGE) |
| 27 | 133612 | Procurement Manager | ROL | MLTSSL (ORANGE) |
| 28 | 231213 | Ship’s Master | ROL | MLTSSL (ORANGE) |
| 29 | 221212 | Corporate Treasurer | OFF | STSOL (GREEN) |
| 30 | 423111 | Aged or Disabled Carer | OFF | STSOL (with mandatory skills assessment) (GREEN) |
| 31 | 423312 | Nursing Support Worker | OFF | STSOL (with mandatory skills assessment) (GREEN) |
| 32 | 423313 | Personal Care Assistant | OFF | STSOL (with mandatory skills assessment) (GREEN) |
Occupations that are staying on their current list but have been recommended for a salary caveat
| ANZSCO code | Occupation Name | Current Status on SMOLs | Salary caveat | |
| 33 | 121321 | Poultry Farmer | STSOL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 34 | 351111 | Baker | STSOL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 35 | 351112 | Pastrycook | STSOL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 36 | 361112 | Horse Trainer | MLTSSL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 37 | 323212 | Fitter and Turner | MLTSSL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 38 | 452499 | Sportspersons nec | STSOL | Salary caveat of $120,000 |
Previous version: 2019 Flagged Occupations
Book a meeting for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.
What this means in 2026
Flagged occupations were part of the old occupation list reviews. They are no longer how occupations are added to or removed from employer sponsored lists. Since 7 December 2024, the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) applies to the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and to the 186 Direct Entry stream.
| Visa | Occupation list used in 2026 |
|---|---|
| 482 Core Skills stream | CSOL |
| 482 Specialist Skills stream | No list (salary of at least $146,576 from 1 July 2026; trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers excluded) |
| 186 Direct Entry | CSOL |
| 189, 190 and 491 (points tested) | Skilled occupation lists (MLTSSL, STSOL, ROL as relevant), plus state lists for 190 and 491 |
Shortage data. Jobs and Skills Australia publishes an annual Occupation Shortage List, which replaced the Skills Priority List. It informs list reviews but is not itself a visa occupation list.
What to do now. Check your occupation against the list for the visa you want, and check it again just before you lodge, as lists can change. If your occupation is not on a list, other options such as a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) or a labour agreement may help. Our skilled occupation list guide explains which list applies to which visa.
Do flagged occupations still exist?
No. The flagging process belonged to the old list reviews. Employer sponsored lists are now set through the CSOL.
What replaced the Skills Priority List?
Jobs and Skills Australia now publishes an annual Occupation Shortage List.
My occupation is not on the CSOL. What are my options?
You may still qualify under the Specialist Skills stream if the salary is high enough, or through a DAMA or labour agreement. Points tested visas use different lists.
Do list changes affect lodged applications?
List changes usually apply to new applications. Applications already lodged are generally assessed under the list in force at the time of lodgement.
