The manufacturing sector has ranked fifth in the list of best industries for immigrants to work in, according to a survey, joining the list that includes mining; construction; and electricity, gas, water, and waste services.
A survey commissioned by Immigration to Australia asked an independent panel of 1,002 Australians to choose the best and worst three industries for immigrants to work in.
Respondents were asked to consider the wages and responsibilities of the jobs based on a list of 17 industries ranked by average weekly wages from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Mining emerged as the best industry for immigrant workers, as selected by the largest proportion of respondents, 51 per cent. This came despite the risk of serious injury and typically laborious job tasks.
An average worker working in the mining sector earns an average of $2,497 a week.
Construction comes second in the list, chosen by 32 per cent of respondents, despite the industry’s 7th place ranking on the pay-grade scale, with the average worker earning $1,380 per week.
Meanwhile, the third best industry for work is electricity, gas, water, and waste services, as chosen by 29 per cent of survey respondents.
According to Immigration to Australia, older Australians are more likely to consider mining, construction, professional, scientific and technical services, manufacturing, and healthcare and social services as better industries than the younger population.
About 41 per cent of respondents over 65 years old have chosen construction as a top industry for immigrants to work in. Meanwhile, the industry was selected by 28 per cent of respondents ages 35 to 54 and 26 per cent by respondents under 35.
The survey found that younger Australians are more likely to choose agriculture, forestry and fishing, electricity, gas, water and water services, financial and insurance services, and arts and recreation services as top industries than older Australians.
“While there is some correlation between best and worst industries and the wages these industries pay, it appears that a good proportion of Australians agree that some high-paying industries are not worth working in due to difficulty of their job tasks,” said Alon Rajic, founder and CEO of Immigration to Australia.
“We believe this local insight will prove valuable to the many immigrants moving to Australia this year, and who have little understanding of Australian industries, working conditions and salaries.”
