Employers - Using the database
The Skill Matching Database (SMD) is a web-based tool that helps you to match potential skilled migrants with skilled vacancies or skill shortages in Australia. Standard short-listing processes can be used to identify a suitable candidate from the database.
Australian employers are not under any obligation to employ an applicant from the database until they are satisfied the applicant is suitable for their business.
Advantages
Nominating people from the Skill Matching Database has a number of distinct advantages:
- applications for all State specific and employer sponsored initiatives, including the ENS, RSMS, STNI and skill matching visa categories, receive priority processing
- where the nomination is made by a State or Territory government, the migrant is selected on the basis that the specific skills and experience they possess are in demand in that State or Territory. As a result, their employment prospects once they arrive in Australia are good
- where an employer sponsors a person from the Skill Matching Database under the ENS, RSMS or Labour Agreement categories, that person is 'deemed' to have an ENS, RSMS or Labour Agreement application. This means the person does not need to lodge another application, thus streamlining processing.
Purpose
The database links applicants for nomination with:
- Employers in certain areas of Australia who are seeking to fill a specific skilled vacancy through the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
See: Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme - Employers in metropolitan areas of Australia who are seeking to fill a specific skilled vacancy through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
See: Employer Nomination Scheme - Employers wanting to nominate applicants under a Labour Agreement
See: Labour Agreements - State and Territory governments with an interest in nominating skilled migrants
See:
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)
Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886)
Searching
Search by ASCO Code
This field enables you to use the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) code to search the Skill Matching Database for the occupation in which you are interested. There is a six digit ASCO code for every identifiable occupation.
Search by keyword
This field enables you to use words you would expect to find in the information provided to search the Skill Matching Database.
Keywords may be in the following fields: current occupation and duties, qualifications, and other training.
Filtering search critieria
The search criteria can be filtered by entering one of the following or a combination:
- a Keyword to search for within the ASCO results
- time frame for when applications were added
- selecting a State/Territory of the applicants intended residence.
Requesting resumes
To obtain further information on a particular applicant (or applicants) on the Skill Matching Database you can request the full resume which contains their personal contact details, visa application information and full employment history.
When viewing information on the Skill Matching Database you can add up to 20 Skill Matching ID numbers into a portfolio to enable you to request the full resumes. You will be able to review your portfolio at any stage and make changes as required.
When submitting a resume request you will be required to provide details of your company. These details are used to determine that you are a genuine employer and are requesting resumes for recruitment purposes only.
For audit purposes, the department will periodically contact a sample of employers to verify details provided in the Employer Skill Matching Resume Request Form.
Employers can request resumes of applicants on the Skill Matching Database in two ways:
- Lodge an online request form from the Skill Matching Database; or
- Contact a member of the Skill Matching Network and quote the Skill Matching Application ID number.
Migrant Categories in the SMD
The full resumes of the applicants on the Skill Matching Database contain codes to help identify their visa status.
A–coded applicants are Skilled Independent migration applicants who have had their applications assessed and have met the pass mark for the points test. This means they have satisfied the initial requirements for their Independent category visa.
B–coded applicants are Skilled Independent migration applicants who have met the pool mark for the points test. This means they are eligible to be sponsored under ENS, RSMS or STNI. These applicants remain on the database for two years from the date of assessment. If, within that time; they are not nominated by an employer or the pass mark does not drop to a level that would enable the applicant to pass the points test, they are removed from the database.
C–coded applicants are Skill Matching visa applicants. This means they are eligible to be sponsored under ENS, RSMS, Labour Agreements or by a State or Territory Government. These applicants remain on the Skill Matching Database for two years. If they are not nominated or sponsored within the two years their details are removed from the database.
D–coded applicants are Skilled–Independent migration applicants who have lodged their applications but not yet been assessed against the points test. These applicants will become either an A or B coded once they have been assessed.
E–coded applicants are State/Territory Nominated Independent migration applicants.
F–coded applicants are Skilled–Independent Overseas Student migration applicants.
G–coded applicants are Skilled–Australian Sponsored Overseas Student and Skilled – Sponsored migration applicants.
H–coded applicants are Skilled–Australian Sponsored and Skilled – Sponsored migration applicants.
I–coded applicants are Skilled – Sponsored applicants who have met the pool mark for the points test.
A, E, F, G and H coded applicants remain on the Skill Matching Database until they arrive in Australia and are listed on the database:
- as a means to market themselves to prospective employers
- if they are undecided on where to settle in Australia, State and Territory governments may contact the applicant and encourage them to settle in their region.