What people on temporary visas work as
The occupations and industries recorded for temporary visa holders in Australia, from the department that grants the visas and the Census that counts the people.
Of the 6 per cent that were assessed
The skilled visa is the only temporary visa that tests occupation. In 2024-25 to 31 March 2025 its most nominated occupation was Chef, at 3,920 grants or 8.1 per cent of the whole program, up 160.5 per cent on the previous year. The second was Resident Medical Officer at 4.9 per cent.
Accommodation and Food Services is the second largest sponsoring industry, at 6,710 grants or 13.9 per cent, up 112.8 per cent year on year.
Top nominated occupations, skilled visa
Primary subclass 482 visas granted, 2024-25 to 31 March 2025. The occupation is the role the sponsoring employer nominates.
| Occupation | Grants | Share of program | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chef | 3,920 | 8.1% | +160.5% |
| Resident Medical Officer | 2,380 | 4.9% | +17.1% |
| Specified in a labour agreement | 1,440 | 3% | +5.8% |
Sponsoring industries, skilled visa
| Industry | Grants | Share | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 8,660 | 17.9% | +48.7% |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 6,710 | 13.9% | +112.8% |
| Other Services | 6,420 | 13.3% | +50.6% |
By occupational group the skilled program is Professionals 43.1 per cent, Technicians and Trades Workers 35.1 per cent, Managers 10.7 per cent. There were 110,740 primary subclass 482 holders in Australia at 31 March 2025, against 1,825,403 people on temporary visas overall.
Of the 94 per cent that were not
Student, Temporary Graduate and Working Holiday Maker visas record no occupation at any stage, so the only source that covers them is the Census, which asks people what they do. These figures are from August 2021, Census night and are four years old.
| Occupation | Share of temporary residents |
|---|---|
| Carers and Aides | 6.8% |
| Road and Rail Drivers | 5.5% |
| Cleaners and Laundry Workers | 5.4% |
The most common industry across all temporary residents was Food and Beverage Services at 11.7 per cent.
By visa type, 2021 Census
| Visa | Most common occupation | Most common industry | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student | Carers and Aides (11%) | Food and Beverage Services (23%) | 63.6% |
| Working Holiday Maker | Factory Process Workers (15%) | Agriculture (18%) | 85.7% |
| Temporary skilled | ICT Professionals (12%) | Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (11%) | 84.3% |
| Special Category (NZ citizens) | Specialist Managers (6%) | Construction Services (6%) | 67.9% |
| Other temporary | Carers and Aides (7%) | Food and Beverage Services (13%) | 67.4% |
What these figures do not show
- Health Care and Social Assistance is the largest single sponsoring industry on the skilled visa, at 17.9 per cent of grants. Clinicians do arrive through this program and these figures do not suggest otherwise.
- The occupation profile of all temporary residents is from the August 2021 Census and is four years old. It predates the post-border-reopening increase and the composition may have shifted since.
- Nominated occupation is the role an employer sponsors a person for. It is not a record of what that person does in later years, and it does not cover the student, graduate and working holiday visas, where no occupation is recorded at all.
- A grant count is a flow. It is not the number of people currently working in that occupation.
Common questions
What is the most common occupation on Australia's skilled visa?
Chef. In 2024-25 to 31 March 2025 there were 3,920 Chef nominations on the subclass 482 skilled visa, 8.1 per cent of the whole program and up 160.5 per cent on the previous year, on Department of Home Affairs figures. The second was Resident Medical Officer at 2,380 grants, or 4.9 per cent.
Do nurses and doctors come to Australia on temporary visas?
Yes. Health Care and Social Assistance is the single largest sponsoring industry on the skilled visa, at 8,660 grants or 17.9 per cent of the program in 2024-25 to 31 March 2025, and Resident Medical Officer is the second most nominated occupation. The second largest sponsoring industry is Accommodation and Food Services at 6,710 grants or 13.9 per cent, up 112.8 per cent year on year.
What do temporary visa holders in Australia actually work as?
At the August 2021 Census, the most common occupations across all temporary residents were Carers and Aides at 6.8 per cent, Road and Rail Drivers at 5.5 per cent, and Cleaners and Laundry Workers at 5.4 per cent. The most common industry was Food and Beverage Services at 11.7 per cent, rising to 23 per cent among student visa holders.
How many people are on Australia's skilled work visa?
There were 110,740 primary subclass 482 visa holders in Australia at 31 March 2025, on Department of Home Affairs figures. That compares with 1,825,403 people on temporary visas overall at 31 August 2026, excluding New Zealand citizens, visitors and crew.
Is occupation recorded for every temporary visa?
No. An occupation is nominated by the sponsoring employer on the skilled visa. Student, Temporary Graduate and Working Holiday Maker visas carry no nominated occupation at all, so for most of the temporary visa population there is no official record of what the holder works as. The 2021 Census is the only source that covers them, by asking.
What do students and working holiday makers work as?
At the 2021 Census the most common occupation for student visa holders was Carers and Aides at 11 per cent, and their most common industry was Food and Beverage Services at 23 per cent. For Working Holiday Makers the most common occupation was Factory Process Workers at 15 per cent, and the most common industry was Agriculture at 18 per cent.
Cite this page
Mindiam (2026). What people on temporary visas work as. Derived from Department of Home Affairs, Temporary resident (skilled) report, 31 March 2025, and ABS, Temporary visa holders in Australia, August 2021, Census night. Retrieved from https://mindiam.com/figures/temporary-visa-occupations
A machine-readable copy is published at mindiam.com/figures/temporary-visa-occupations/data.json as JSON.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs, Temporary resident (skilled) report, 31 March 2025. Primary visas granted 2024-25 to 31 March 2025.
- ABS, Temporary visa holders in Australia. August 2021, Census night.
Revision history
- 2026-10-08 Page created, with Home Affairs skilled-visa nominations to 31 March 2025 and ABS Census occupation data for all temporary residents.
Related: temporary visa holders, net overseas migration. Mindiam publishes opinion on migration policy in The National Interest. This page is a reference and takes no position. Corrections: mindiam.com/corrections.