Temporary overseas workers in Australia, 1989

The principal aims of this study were to investigate the employment of temporary overseas workers in Australia, and examine attitudes of employers towards them, concentrating on working holiday makers and overseas students (those studying courses of less than a year, with the course not leading to a degree or diploma). The key objectives of the research were to: describe the impact of overseas students and working holiday makers in selected industry sections; to determine the reasons for their inclusion or exclusion from the workforce in selected industries; describe the characteristics of their involvement in such industries; and to describe the role of the Commonwealth Employment Service in the employment of overseas students and working holiday makers. Topics covered include: methods of recruiting staff; employment of foreign nationals and their employment status; sponsorship of staff; number of employees; nationality of foreign workers; employment of overseas students; percentage of foreign staff in different occupational categories; employment strategies if overseas staff not available; staff training and experience; need for language skills; problems experienced in finding Australian residents to work; attitudes to and awareness of government programs regarding employment of foreign nationals; and birthplace of employer, type of business and business ownership.