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Fact Sheet 16 – Immigration Research

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The Department of Immigration and Citizenship undertakes research and evaluation to assist it in policy making and operational decisions, and to inform the community. There are three aspects to this research and evaluation.

  • The undertaking of surveys to evaluate the outcomes of recent migrants
  • The commissioning of independent research on current and emerging issues associated with immigration, population, multiculturalism and settlement
  • The collection of immigration related statistics.

Migrant surveys

The Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia (LSIA)

The LSIA is the most comprehensive survey of immigrants undertaken in Australia. It provides the basis for some of the department's commissioned immigration research. It also provides valuable data to enable the department to monitor and improve immigration and settlement policies, programs and services.

Questionnaires used in the LSIA covered many aspects of life in Australia, such as employment experience, English language skills, qualifications and their assessment, income and finances, support services (government and non-government), housing arrangements, health and satisfaction with life in Australia.

There were three LSIA surveys:

  • LSIA 1
    More than 5000 migrants who arrived in Australia between September 1993 and August 1995, were asked about their experiences during their first three-and-a-half years in Australia.
  • LSIA 2
    More than 3000 migrants who arrived between September 1999 and August 2000 were subsequently surveyed.
  • LSIA 3
    More than 9000 offshore migrants (who arrived between December 2004-March 2005) and onshore migrants (who were granted visas between December 2004 – March 2005) were surveyed in 2005 and 12 months later in 2006.

Further LSIA information including research reports based on the survey can be located on the department's website.
See: The Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia

The Continuous Survey of Australia's Migrants (CSAM)

The Continuous Survey of Australia's Migrants (CSAM) is a new survey designed to monitor the outcomes of recent migrants to Australia. Every six months two cohorts of migrants will be surveyed:

  • Cohort 1 - Primary Applicants who have been in Australia for around six months
  • Cohort 2 - Primary Applicants who have been in Australia for around 12 months.

As the survey will be ongoing, it will eventually be possible to produce a time series of migrant outcomes for each Program year. There is also a longitudinal aspect to the survey - migrants from Cohort 1 will be surveyed again six months later in Cohort 2. Any improvement in migrant outcomes, brought about by an additional six months living in Australia can therefore be measured.

The survey help answer the following questions:

  • What are migrant labour market outcomes at a point in time?
  • How do these outcomes improve with an additional six months living in Australia?
  • Which categories of migrant are associated with a particularly good or particularly poor labour market outcomes?
  • How strong is the association between good English and positive labour market outcomes?
  • Are skilled migrants working in skilled jobs?
  • Are migrants having problems with housing affordability?
  • How satisfied are migrants with their housing?

Fieldwork for the survey is planned to start in September 2009. First results should be available in December 2009.

Research completed 2004–09

The following list shows research completed from 2004–09:

  • Evaluation of Australia's Working Holiday Program – To measure and assess the impact of Working Holiday Makers Market Research on Employer Nomination Scheme.
  • 2008 Update of the Migrants Fiscal Impact Model – This report by Access Economics shows the projected effects on the Commonwealth Budget of different categories of migrants.
  • Survey of Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) Visa Holders – This report by the department describes the employment outcomes, settlement experiences and pathways to permanent residence of SIR migrants, and is based on a survey of SIR visa holders who came to Australia between July 2004 and June 2006.
  • New migrant outcomes – third longitudinal survey of immigrants to Australia, by the department. A report describing the results of LSIA3, examining labour market outcomes, assessment of qualifications, earnings, housing arrangements and community involvement.
  • Evaluation of Skilled Migration to the Riverina, by the department. To determine how well skilled migration schemes are working from a community, an employer and employee perspective in the Riverina region of New South Wales.
  • Australia's Net Gains from International Skilled Movement, by Dr Bob Birrell, Centre for Population and Urban Research, Monash University. This report details the movements of skilled workers to and from Australia in 2004-05 along with trend data since the mid 1990s. It examines whether Australia has a brain drain or a brain gain.
  • Immigration and the Supply of Complex Problem Solvers in the Australian Economy, by Professor Peter McDonald, ANU, evaluates how Australia's skilled migration policies help increase the future supply of young 'complex problem solvers' to complement the ageing composition of the labour force.
  • The Economic Impact of Migration: A Comparison of Two Approaches, by Econtech, investigates the factors that underlie differences in the economic impact of migrants from two major economic models of the economy.
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of the general skilled migration categories and the points test, by Dr Bob Birrell, Monash University; Prof Sue Richardson, Flinders University; and Dr Lesleyanne Hawthorne, Melbourne University and migration experts in the UK, Canada and NZ. The report includes a comparison of the Australian points test with those countries' systems.
  • Commonwealth Budget Model Update 2003 and 2004 by Access Economics.
  • Economic Impact of the 2002-2003 Migration Program by Econtech.
  • Survey of long-term Temporary Entrants. Prof Peter McDonald, ANU. Jointly funded with the Australian Research Council. This project is in two parts: a study of the characteristics of long-term temporary entrants and a survey of temporary entrants and their employer sponsors.
  • Labour Force and Settlement Outcomes of New Migrants, by the National Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University of SA. Two studies using the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia wave two data, to gauge the effects of a further year's residence in Australia on migrants' labour force and settlement experiences.
  • A Comparison of Australian and Canadian Immigration Policies and Labour Market Outcomes by Prof Sue Richardson, National Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University, 2004.
  • Skilled Movement in the New Century by Dr Bob Birrell, Centre for Population and Urban Research, Monash University, 2004. This study updates previous research in this area using statistical data sourced from passenger cards completed by people arriving, or leaving Australia for the period 2000-2001 through to 2002-2003.

For more information on Research completed 2004–09.
See:
Research Publications
Australian Immigration Research

Copies of research reports can be obtained by using the Research Enquiry Form.
See: Research enquiry form

Commonwealth-State research program

The purpose of this program is to commission research that is of relevance to the department and state/territory multicultural agencies. The program is administered by the Commonwealth and State and Territory Research Advisory Committee , which comprises representatives from the department as well as state and territory immigration and multicultural affairs agencies.

The program's current research project is on the population distribution effects of immigration. The objective of this project is to analyse and report on the settlement patterns of recent migrants, the extent of internal migration within Australia and the projected impacts of migration on Australia's future population composition.

The project is intended to provide answers to the following questions:

  • What effect is internal migration having on our population distribution?
  • What are some of the emerging population shifts through internal migration?
  • What is the impact of these shifts from a demographic, human and productive capital perspective for various parts of Australia?
  • What would Australia look like today without recent migration?
  • Which parts of Australia have undergone the greatest changes in population?
  • What challenges would our labour market be facing without migration?
  • What is the effect of future migration scenarios on Australia's demographic composition and population distribution?

Other recent studies under the Commonwealth-state research program

The following is a list of other recent studies under the Commonwealth-state research program:

  • The People of Australia by SGS Economics and Planning, 2008. This work draws on data from the 2006 and 2001 Census of population and housing. Its main component is tabular analysis (at the LGA level) of religion, ancestry, birthplace, language and english competency. There are also summary tables for each state-territory based on these variables and a national overview.
  • Study of the Social Costs and Benefits of Migration into Australia identifies and examines the social costs and benefits of migration to Australia, with particular reference to individual states and territories. The results of this study are intended to assist in identifying strategies for promoting social cohesion and integration of migrants.
  • Effectiveness of Cross-Cultural Training in the Australian Context by Cultural Diversity Services Pty Ltd. Looks at various models of training, identifying good practice examples, and undertaking analysis of levels of awareness, knowledge and skills of selected test groups of participants.
  • Surveys of Migrants who arrived under the Skilled Designated Area Sponsored (SDAS) and the regional Skilled Migration Scheme (RSMS), statistical analysis by the department. The SDAS survey comprises respondents who arrived in Australia between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2003. The RSMS comprises respondents who arrived in Australia between 1 July 1999 and 30 June 2003.

Migrant Statistics

Each year the department produces the report – Population Flows – Immigration Aspects. This publication provides a succinct and up to date summary of the characteristics of Australia's population, the composition of Australia's immigration programs and the movement of people into and out of Australia.

The department also regularly publishes detailed statistics on Australia's stock of temporary entrants, emigration from Australia, settler arrivals, citizenship and Migration Program outcomes.

Further statistics information can be obtained on the department's website.
See: Statistics

Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

Fact Sheet 16. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last reviewed 10 September 2009.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.