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    Occupation ceilings for the 2017-2018

Occupation ceilings for Skilled Migration

Update (October 2026)

Occupation ceilings still apply to the 189 visa and the family sponsored 491 visa, and the Department of Home Affairs sets new ceilings each program year. From the 2025-26 program year ceilings are set using four occupation tiers, explained below. The tables on this page are historical (the 8 December 2022 invitation round and the 2019-20 ceilings) and are kept for reference only.

The table below shows the occupation ceilings for the program year for each occupation on the list of eligible skilled occupations by four-digit ANZSCO code unit group.

Occupation ceiling values are based on a percentage of stock employment figures for each occupation. Stock employment figures are provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and represent the number of people employed in Australia in each occupation.

Occupation ceilings do not apply to State or Territory Nominated, Employer Sponsored or Business Innovation and Investment visa subclasses.

Occupation ceilings for invitation rounds

An ‘occupation ceiling’ may be applied to invitations issued under the independent, and skilled regional (provisional) visas. This means there will be a reasonable upper limit on how many Expressions of Interest can be invited for skilled migration from an occupation group. This ensures that the skilled migration program remains balanced and continues to invite intending migrants across a variety of skilled occupations.

Occupation ceiling values are based on a percentage of stock employment figures for each occupation. Employment figures are provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and represent the number of people employed in Australia in each occupation.

Occupation ceilings do not apply to State or Territory Nominated or Business Innovation and Investment visa subclasses.

How occupation ceilings work in 2026

An occupation ceiling is the maximum number of invitations that can be issued in a program year (1 July to 30 June) for each four-digit ANZSCO unit group. Ceilings apply to invitations for the 189 visa and the family sponsored 491 visa. They do not apply to state or territory nominated visas (190 and state nominated 491) or employer sponsored visas, although states set their own nomination allocations.

From the 2025-26 program year, each occupation is placed in one of four tiers and its ceiling is worked out as a percentage of the number of people employed in that occupation in Australia:

Tier Share of employment Examples
Tier 1 4.0% Highest value occupations with long training times, such as medical specialists and researchers
Tier 2 2.0% Priority occupations with immediate value, such as teachers and engineers
Tier 3 1.0% Most other occupations, such as marketing and human resources roles
Tier 4 0.5% Occupations already well supplied through other visas, such as accountants and some ICT roles

Visas already granted in the same occupation through employer sponsored and state nominated programs are also counted, which can reduce the places left for 189 invitations. In practice this means that for some occupations very few, or no, 189 invitations are issued in a year, even for high scores.

Historical invitation and ceiling data

Open a table to see the figures published at the time.

The table below shows the occupations issued invitations in the SkillSelect invitation round on 8 December 2022.
189 491
Occupation Offshore** Onshore** Offshore** Onshore**
Accountant (General) 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Actuary 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Aeronautical Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Agricultural Consultant 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Agricultural Engineer 90 90 N/A* N/A*
Agricultural Scientist 90 85 N/A* N/A*
Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber 65 N/A* N/A* N/A*
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic 70 65 N/A* N/A*
Analyst Programmer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Architect 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Artistic Director N/A* 75 N/A* N/A*
Arts Administrator or Manager 65 70 N/A* N/A*
Audiologist 65 65 85 75
Automotive Electrician N/A* 65 N/A* N/A*
Barrister 65 70 N/A* N/A*
Biochemist N/A* 85 N/A* N/A*
Biomedical Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Biotechnologist 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Boat Builder and Repairer N/A* 70 N/A* N/A*
Botanist N/A* 100 N/A* N/A*
Bricklayer 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Cabinetmaker 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Cardiologist 85 N/A* N/A* N/A*
Cardiothoracic Surgeon N/A* 80 N/A* N/A*
Carpenter 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Carpenter and Joiner 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Cartographer 90 100 N/A* N/A*
Chef 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Chemical Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Chemist 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Child Care Centre Manager 65 65 N/A* 75
Chiropractor 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Civil Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Civil Engineering Draftsperson 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Civil Engineering Technician 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Clinical Psychologist 70 65 N/A* N/A*
Computer Network and Systems Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Conservator N/A* 85 N/A* N/A*
Construction Project Manager 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Dancer or Choreographer 65 80 N/A* N/A*
Dermatologist 70 N/A* N/A* N/A*
Developer Programmer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist 80 65 N/A* N/A*
Diesel Motor Mechanic 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher 65 65 65 85
Economist 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Educational Psychologist N/A* 85 N/A* N/A*
Electrical Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Electrical Engineering Draftsperson 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Electrical Engineering Technician 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Electrician (General) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Electrician (Special Class) N/A* 70 N/A* N/A*
Electronic Equipment Trades Worker 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class) 65 90 N/A* N/A*
Electronics Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Emergency Medicine Specialist 70 65 N/A* N/A*
Endocrinologist N/A* 65 N/A* N/A*
Engineering Manager 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Engineering Professionals nec 90 85 N/A* N/A*
Engineering Technologist 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Environmental Consultant 90 85 N/A* N/A*
Environmental Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Environmental Manager 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Environmental Research Scientist 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Environmental Scientists nec N/A* 85 N/A* N/A*
External Auditor 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Fitter (General) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Fitter and Turner 70 N/A* N/A*
Fitter-Welder 70 70 N/A* N/A*
Food Technologist 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Forester N/A* 85 N/A* N/A*
Gasfitter 65 N/A* N/A* N/A*
General Practitioner 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Geotechnical Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Glazier N/A* 75 N/A* N/A*
ICT Business Analyst 85 85 N/A* N/A*
ICT Security Specialist 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Industrial Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Intensive Care Specialist 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Internal Auditor 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Joiner N/A* 70 N/A* N/A*
Land Economist 75 70 N/A* N/A*
Landscape Architect 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Life Scientist (General) 90 85 N/A* N/A*
Life Scientists nec 90 85 N/A* N/A*
Lift Mechanic 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Locksmith 80 80 N/A* N/A*
Management Accountant 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Management Consultant 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Marine Biologist N/A* 85 N/A* N/A*
Materials Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Mechanical Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Medical Diagnostic Radiographer 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Medical Laboratory Scientist 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Medical Practitioners nec 65 65 110 N/A*
Medical Radiation Therapist 70 70 N/A* N/A*
Metal Fabricator 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Metal Machinist (First Class) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Metallurgist N/A* 90 N/A* N/A*
Meteorologist N/A* 90 N/A* N/A*
Microbiologist N/A* 85 N/A* N/A*
Midwife 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Motor Mechanic (General) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Multimedia Specialist 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Music Director 70 N/A* N/A* N/A*
Musician (Instrumental) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Naval Architect 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Neurosurgeon N/A* 65 N/A* N/A*
Nuclear Medicine Technologist 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Nurse Practitioner 70 N/A* 85 N/A*
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 70 65 N/A* N/A*
Occupational Therapist 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Optometrist 65 70 N/A* N/A*
Organisational Psychologist 80 N/A* N/A* N/A*
Orthotist or Prosthetist N/A* 75 N/A* N/A*
Osteopath 75 75 N/A* N/A*
Other Spatial Scientist 90 90 N/A* N/A*
Otorhinolaryngologist N/A* 85 N/A* N/A*
Paediatrician N/A* 70 N/A* N/A*
Painting Trades Worker 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Panelbeater 70 65 N/A* N/A*
Pathologist 65 65 95 N/A*
Petroleum Engineer 90 85 N/A* N/A*
Physicist 90 85 N/A* N/A*
Physiotherapist 65 65 80 N/A*
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon 70 N/A* N/A* N/A*
Plumber (General) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Podiatrist 70 65 N/A* N/A*
Primary Health Organisation Manager 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Production or Plant Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Psychiatrist 80 65 N/A* N/A*
Psychologists nec 65 65 N/A* 90
Quantity Surveyor 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Radiation Oncologist 85 80 N/A* N/A*
Radiocommunications Technician N/A* 65 N/A* N/A*
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 65 65 N/A* 65
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Registered Nurse (Community Health) 65 65 70 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) 65 65 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) 65 70 N/A* N/A*
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Registered Nurse (Medical) 65 65 65 85
Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 65 65 65 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) 65 70 N/A* N/A*
Registered Nurse (Perioperative) 65 65 75 90
Registered Nurse (Surgical) 65 65 85 65
Registered Nurses nec 65 65 90 65
Roof Plumber N/A* 80 N/A* N/A*
Secondary School Teacher 65 65 70 80
Sheetmetal Trades Worker N/A* 70 N/A* N/A*
Shipwright 70 N/A* N/A* N/A*
Social Worker 65 65 N/A* 80
Software and Applications Programmers nec 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Software Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Solicitor 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Solid Plasterer N/A* 70 N/A* N/A*
Sonographer 65 N/A* 75 N/A*
Special Needs Teacher 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Specialist Physician (General Medicine) 65 70 N/A* N/A*
Specialist Physicians nec 70 65 N/A* N/A*
Speech Pathologist 65 65 80 N/A*
Statistician 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Structural Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Surgeon (General) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Surveyor 90 85 N/A* N/A*
Systems Analyst 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Taxation Accountant 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Technical Cable Jointer N/A* 70 N/A* N/A*
Telecommunications Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Telecommunications Field Engineer 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Telecommunications Network Engineer 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Telecommunications Network Planner 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Tennis Coach 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Transport Engineer 90 85 N/A* N/A*
University Lecturer 65 65 65 95
Valuer 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Vascular Surgeon N/A* 80 N/A* N/A*
Veterinarian 85 85 N/A* N/A*
Wall and Floor Tiler 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Welder (First Class) 65 65 N/A* N/A*
Welfare Centre Manager 80 N/A* N/A* N/A*
Zoologist N/A* 100 N/A* N/A*

Occupation ceilings for the 2019-20 program year.

Occupation ID Description Occupation Ceiling Value 2019-20 Invitations to 11/07/2019
1213 Livestock Farmers 5,934 0
1331 Construction Managers 4,983 0
1332 Engineering Managers 1,000 0
1341 Child Care Centre Managers 1,000 0
1342 Health and Welfare Services Managers 1,785 0
1399 Other Specialist Managers 3,044 0
2111 Actors, Dancers and Other Entertainers 1,000 0
2112 Music Professionals 1,000 0
2121 Artistic Directors, and Media Producers and Presenters 1,098 0
2211 Accountants* 2,746 83
2212 Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers* 1,552 47
2241 Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians 1,000 6
2243 Economists 1,000 <5
2245 Land Economists and Valuers 1,000 <5
2247 Management consultant 5,269 5
2321 Architects and Landscape Architects 2,171 124
2322 Cartographers and Surveyors 1,000 <5
2331 Chemical and Materials Engineers 1,000 13
2332 Civil Engineering Professionals 3,772 26
2333 Electrical Engineers 1,000 20
2334 Electronics Engineers* 1,000 30
2335 Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers* 1,600 49
2336 Mining Engineers 1,000 5
2339 Other Engineering Professionals* 1,000 30
2341 Agricultural and Forestry Scientists 1,000 <5
2342 Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists 1,000 6
2343 Environmental Scientists 1,472 <5
2344 Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists 1,000 <5
2345 Life Scientists 1,000 11
2346 Medical Laboratory Scientists 1,505 <5
2347 Veterinarians 1,000 0
2349 Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals 1,000 <5
2411 Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers 2,294 5
2414 Secondary School Teachers 8,052 5
2415 Special Education Teachers 1,111 0
2421 University Lecturers and Tutors 3,407 <5
2512 Medical Imaging Professionals 1,203 0
2514 Optometrists and Orthoptists 1,000 0
2519 Other Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals 1,000 0
2521 Chiropractors and Osteopaths 1,000 0
2524 Occupational Therapists 1,082 0
2525 Physiotherapists 1,784 <5
2526 Podiatrists 1,000 0
2527 Speech Professionals and Audiologists 1,000 <5
2531 General Practitioners and Resident Medical officers 3,550 14
2533 Internal Medicine Specialists 1,000 0
2534 Psychiatrists 1,000 0
2535 Surgeons 1,000 0
2539 Other Medical Practitioners 1,250 11
2541 Midwives 1,218 0
2544 Registered Nurses 17,509 52
2611 ICT Business and Systems Analysts* 2,587 79
2612 Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers 1,000 7
2613 Software and Applications Programmers* 8,748 265
2621 Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists 2,887 34
2631 Computer Network Professionals* 2,553 77
2633 Telecommunications Engineering Professionals 1,000 22
2711 Barristers 1,000 0
2713 Solicitors 4,650 <5
2723 Psychologists 1,832 0
2725 Social Workers 2,128 37
3122 Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians 1,000 8
3123 Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians 1,000 0
3132 Telecommunications Technical Specialists 1,000 0
3211 Automotive Electricians 1,000 0
3212 Motor Mechanics 6,399 <5
3222 Sheetmetal Trades Workers 1,000 0
3223 Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers 3,983 0
3232 Metal Fitters and Machinists 7,007 0
3233 Precision Metal Trades Workers 1,000 0
3241 Panelbeaters 1,000 0
3311 Bricklayers and Stonemasons 1,610 0
3312 Carpenters and Joiners 8,536 0
3322 Painting Trades Workers 3,330 <5
3331 Glaziers 1,000 0
3332 Plasterers 2,100 0
3334 Wall and Floor Tilers 1,682 0
3341 Plumbers 5,060 0
3411 Electricians 8,624 <5
3421 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics 1,851 0
3422 Electrical Distribution Trades Workers 1,000 0
3423 Electronics Trades Workers 1,313 <5
3513 Chefs 2,738 <5
3611 Animal Attendants and Trainers 1,051 0
3941 Cabinetmakers 2,112 0
3991 Boat Builders and Shipwrights 1,000 0
4523 Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials 4,071 0
4524 Sportspersons 1,000 0

*Occupations that are subject to pro rata arrangements. For Accountants (2211) the occupational ceiling also reflects volumes in other skilled visa categories.

Occupation ceilings FAQs

It is the upper limit on the number of SkillSelect invitations that can be issued in a program year for an occupation group (four-digit ANZSCO unit group). It applies to the 189 visa and the family sponsored 491 visa.

No. State and territory nominated visas (190 and state nominated 491) and employer sponsored visas are not subject to occupation ceilings. Each state and territory has its own nomination allocation and criteria instead.

No more invitations are issued in that occupation group until the next program year starts on 1 July. Your Expression of Interest stays in SkillSelect for up to 2 years, so it can still be invited in a later year if you remain eligible.

Look at state or territory nomination, which is not limited by occupation ceilings, increase your points where you can (for example English or work experience), or consider employer sponsorship. A consultation can help you compare these options.

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