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Kampala to Australia: how to read the new migration numbers before you commit

News · 2026-08-25 · 4 min read

Picture someone in Kampala with a diploma, several years of experience and an offer conversation going on with an Australian employer. Two government reports landed in August 2026, and they speak straight to that person. In brief: the visa that most sponsored workers use looks healthy, pay thresholds are moving upward, and the job market is solid without being even. Here is what to take from each part.

A young visa with an early scorecard

Australia replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) pathway with the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa in December 2024. The review looks at around ten months, up to September 2025. The authors say plainly that the sample is small. What they do say is that early results fit the aims of the Migration Strategy. That is a modest conclusion, and a fair one: the visa is not proven, but it is not misfiring either.

Pay is the number to watch

Employers who nominate workers are paying more than they did under TSS. The salary thresholds are indexed, and they go up each year. If you are talking to an employer, raise this directly. A figure that passes today could fall short when a contract is finalised next year, and you want both sides to know that before signing.

Which jobs are getting through

Look at the pattern by stream. Specialist Skills Stream approvals went overwhelmingly to managers and professionals. Core Skills Stream grants leaned toward professionals, technicians and trades workers. In other words, higher-skilled and trade-qualified people are who the system rewards. If you hold a Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) certificate or a degree, remember that it does not by itself equal an Australian licence, skills assessment or registration, so check what your occupation needs.

A different door has also been opening. Employers have been using Labour Agreements, which are custom arrangements for cases where ordinary visa subclasses do not fit, far more often. Our story on the tradie shortage as a migration opportunity gives a sense of which industries lean on them.

The wider job market

The labour market report found resilience, with a few pockets starting to cool. Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services led growth over the year. Health Care and Social Assistance and Education and Training followed closely. Professionals recorded the largest employment gains of any occupational group in the year to February 2026. If you can choose, pick the sector first and the subclass second.

Landing is its own project

The reports end with a sober point. How migrants fare depends on skills, English proficiency, work experience and how long they have been in the country. Female migrants have higher unemployment than male migrants in most states and territories, and newcomers have a tougher time than long-settled residents. Treat the first months as a project: English tuition, local work experience and professional contacts all help. A tidy CV prepared with Build AI CV makes outreach easier, and our guide to processing priorities shows how queues can shift.

Common mistakes to avoid when you read the data

• Treating one good report as a promise about your own application.
• Writing a job title on the form that differs from what you actually do each day.
• Forgetting that qualification checks and English requirements still apply on top of any salary rule.
• Skipping professional advice, when a migration agent on the MARA register can review your case for Australia, and a licensed immigration adviser can do so for New Zealand.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Ugandan degree count?

It helps, but many occupations still need an Australian skills assessment, licence or registration.

Why does the salary threshold matter?

Because the nominated pay must meet it, and it rises annually.

What are Labour Agreements?

Tailored arrangements employers negotiate when standard visas do not suit their workforce.

Which streams suit tradespeople?

The Core Skills Stream leaned toward technicians and trades workers.

Is it too early to apply?

The settings may keep shifting through 2026, so keep your plan flexible and check it regularly. You can also browse the current jobs to see how roles are described.

Key takeaways

• The Skills in Demand visa is young and the sample is small, yet early signs are positive.
• Indexed thresholds rise every year, so pay needs checking at signing.
• Professionals, technicians and trades workers are being approved in the Core Skills Stream.
• Labour Agreements are growing.
• Prepare for English, experience and networking before you land.

#migration numbers #skilled migration #uganda #subclass 482 #labour agreements