# Visa Grant Trends by Occupation 2024-25

Source: Department of Home Affairs, BP0068 Migration Program outcomes (data.gov.au, CC BY 4.0). The views expressed are ImmiTrend's, not the Department's.  
Released: December 2025. Covers: 2015-16–2024-25; main applicants, all skilled visas.  
Web page: https://immitrend.com.au/visa-grants/trends

## Summary

Carpenter gained the most ground in 2024-25 and Registered Nurses (nec) lost the most. Carpenter grants rose from 454 to 1,176; Registered Nurses (nec) fell from 4,566 to 1,605.

## Key facts

- 57,761 main applicants with a recorded occupation were granted skilled visas in 2024-25, across 581 occupations.
- Chef was the most granted occupation in 2024-25, with 3,439 main applicants.
- 133 occupations had 20 or more grants every year from 2015-16 to 2024-25; Accountant (General) had the most over the period (33,085).

## Most granted occupations, 2024-25

| Occupation | ANZSCO | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Share change (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chef | 351311 | 3,957 | 3,439 | −0.40 |
| Accountant (General) | 221111 | 4,178 | 2,730 | −1.98 |
| Software Engineer | 261313 | 2,290 | 2,398 | +0.48 |
| Civil Engineer | 233211 | 1,911 | 1,785 | +0.02 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 233512 | 2,073 | 1,695 | −0.39 |
| ICT Business Analyst | 261111 | 1,622 | 1,685 | +0.31 |
| Registered Nurses (nec) | 254499 | 4,566 | 1,605 | −4.55 |
| Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher | 241111 | 1,429 | 1,507 | +0.32 |
| Carpenter | 331212 | 454 | 1,176 | +1.31 |
| Developer Programmer | 261312 | 1,446 | 1,102 | −0.41 |
| Motor Mechanic (General) | 321211 | 1,094 | 1,087 | +0.13 |
| Electrical Engineer | 233311 | 1,020 | 1,042 | +0.17 |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) | 254415 | 1,245 | 919 | −0.41 |
| Engineering Technologist | 233914 | 1,060 | 861 | −0.21 |
| Registered Nurse (Medical) | 254418 | 1,282 | 845 | −0.59 |
| Painting Trades Worker | 332211 | 382 | 764 | +0.71 |
| External Auditor | 221213 | 679 | 759 | +0.22 |
| Computer Network and Systems Engineer | 263111 | 1,008 | 752 | −0.32 |
| Architect | 232111 | 358 | 743 | +0.71 |
| General Practitioner | 253111 | 603 | 739 | +0.31 |

## Rising occupations (share of grants, points)

| Occupation | ANZSCO | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Share change (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Carpenter | 331212 | 454 | 1,176 | +1.31 |
| Civil Engineering Draftsperson | 312211 | 299 | 727 | +0.78 |
| Architect | 232111 | 358 | 743 | +0.71 |
| Painting Trades Worker | 332211 | 382 | 764 | +0.71 |
| Construction Project Manager | 133111 | 376 | 712 | +0.63 |
| Software Engineer | 261313 | 2,290 | 2,398 | +0.48 |
| Quantity Surveyor | 233213 | 279 | 510 | +0.44 |
| Electrician (General) | 341111 | 170 | 362 | +0.35 |
| University Lecturer | 242111 | 518 | 682 | +0.35 |
| Personal Care Assistant | 423313 | 58 | 243 | +0.33 |

## Falling occupations (share of grants, points)

| Occupation | ANZSCO | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Share change (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Registered Nurses (nec) | 254499 | 4,566 | 1,605 | −4.55 |
| Accountant (General) | 221111 | 4,178 | 2,730 | −1.98 |
| Enrolled Nurse | 411411 | 1,002 | 317 | −1.06 |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | 254412 | 1,092 | 528 | −0.84 |
| Registered Nurse (Medical) | 254418 | 1,282 | 845 | −0.59 |
| Retail Pharmacist | 251513 | 564 | 248 | −0.48 |
| Developer Programmer | 261312 | 1,446 | 1,102 | −0.41 |
| Solicitor | 271311 | 413 | 146 | −0.41 |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) | 254415 | 1,245 | 919 | −0.41 |
| Chef | 351311 | 3,957 | 3,439 | −0.40 |

## Granted every year, 2015-16–2024-25 (133)

| Occupation | ANZSCO | Total (10) | Trend | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accountant (General) | 221111 | 33,085 | steady | 3,640 | 3,351 | 3,505 | 3,150 | 3,815 | 1,785 | 2,608 | 4,323 | 4,178 | 2,730 |
| Software Engineer | 261313 | 24,886 | falling | 3,410 | 3,346 | 3,112 | 3,281 | 1,663 | 1,704 | 1,832 | 1,850 | 2,290 | 2,398 |
| Registered Nurses (nec) | 254499 | 21,520 | rising | 2,329 | 1,965 | 1,561 | 1,317 | 2,192 | 1,422 | 1,505 | 3,058 | 4,566 | 1,605 |
| Chef | 351311 | 17,293 | rising | 822 | 866 | 635 | 1,033 | 1,073 | 679 | 1,948 | 2,841 | 3,957 | 3,439 |
| Cook | 351411 | 13,379 | falling | 2,865 | 2,186 | 1,257 | 1,958 | 1,875 | 610 | 628 | 985 | 563 | 452 |
| Developer Programmer | 261312 | 13,046 | falling | 1,517 | 1,535 | 1,487 | 1,556 | 984 | 1,162 | 1,122 | 1,135 | 1,446 | 1,102 |
| ICT Business Analyst | 261111 | 12,423 | rising | 1,247 | 1,310 | 1,237 | 1,234 | 851 | 918 | 1,075 | 1,244 | 1,622 | 1,685 |
| Civil Engineer | 233211 | 12,037 | rising | 1,211 | 1,268 | 1,140 | 920 | 703 | 800 | 935 | 1,364 | 1,911 | 1,785 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 233512 | 11,689 | rising | 1,239 | 1,204 | 996 | 952 | 618 | 709 | 792 | 1,411 | 2,073 | 1,695 |
| Computer Network and Systems Engineer | 263111 | 9,377 | falling | 1,683 | 1,512 | 993 | 1,108 | 553 | 524 | 537 | 707 | 1,008 | 752 |
| Cafe or Restaurant Manager | 141111 | 8,753 | falling | 1,328 | 1,377 | 798 | 1,147 | 1,186 | 358 | 564 | 800 | 630 | 565 |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | 254412 | 8,710 | rising | 346 | 264 | 191 | 281 | 508 | 711 | 1,451 | 3,338 | 1,092 | 528 |
| Motor Mechanic (General) | 321211 | 7,244 | rising | 811 | 720 | 501 | 643 | 531 | 307 | 382 | 1,168 | 1,094 | 1,087 |
| Engineering Technologist | 233914 | 7,110 | rising | 824 | 763 | 691 | 558 | 755 | 489 | 344 | 765 | 1,060 | 861 |
| Electrical Engineer | 233311 | 6,867 | rising | 666 | 786 | 717 | 706 | 356 | 399 | 406 | 769 | 1,020 | 1,042 |
| Marketing Specialist | 225113 | 6,518 | falling | 862 | 881 | 761 | 1,023 | 604 | 304 | 297 | 482 | 601 | 703 |
| University Lecturer | 242111 | 6,438 | rising | 592 | 570 | 658 | 919 | 805 | 505 | 370 | 819 | 518 | 682 |
| Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher | 241111 | 6,391 | rising | 228 | 284 | 262 | 283 | 230 | 123 | 304 | 1,741 | 1,429 | 1,507 |
| External Auditor | 221213 | 6,129 | falling | 1,790 | 695 | 474 | 281 | 264 | 258 | 542 | 387 | 679 | 759 |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) | 254415 | 6,118 | rising | 347 | 289 | 331 | 387 | 428 | 477 | 627 | 1,068 | 1,245 | 919 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which occupations gained the most share of skilled visas in 2024-25?

Carpenter (454 → 1,176), Civil Engineering Draftsperson (299 → 727), Architect (358 → 743) and Painting Trades Worker (382 → 764) gained the most share of skilled visas granted to main applicants in 2024-25, compared with the year before, according to Department of Home Affairs grant data.

### Which occupations lost the most skilled visa share in 2024-25?

Registered Nurses (nec) (4,566 → 1,605), Accountant (General) (4,178 → 2,730), Enrolled Nurse (1,002 → 317) and Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (1,092 → 528) lost the most share of skilled visas granted to main applicants in 2024-25, compared with the year before, according to Department of Home Affairs grant data.

### Which occupation was granted the most skilled visas in 2024-25?

Chef was granted the most skilled visas in 2024-25, with 3,439 main applicants, followed by Accountant (General) (2,730) and Software Engineer (2,398).

### Which occupations received the most 189 visas in 2024-25?

Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher received the most 189 (Skilled Independent) visas in 2024-25, with 951 main applicants, followed by Registered Nurses (nec) (797) and Carpenter (648).

### Which occupations received the most 190 visas in 2024-25?

Accountant (General) received the most 190 (Skilled Nominated) visas in 2024-25, with 1,071 main applicants, followed by Civil Engineer (912) and Software Engineer (877).

### Which occupations received the most 491 visas in 2024-25?

Accountant (General) received the most 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visas in 2024-25, with 900 main applicants, followed by Chef (502) and Mechanical Engineer (498).

### How many occupations were granted skilled visas every year since 2015-16?

133 occupations had 20 or more main-applicant skilled visa grants in every year from 2015-16 to 2024-25. Accountant (General) had the most: 33,085 in total.

### Why don't visa grant numbers match invitation numbers?

An invitation only lets someone apply; the visa is usually granted months later, often in the next program year. These occupation counts are also main applicants only, while a grant can include family members, so grants never line up round by round with SkillSelect invitations.