Overseas, please contact your nearest Australian diplomatic office . This fact sheet can also be viewed in Adobe Acrobat Reader and MS Word97 . The issue of the impact of immigration on the rate of unemployment is complex.
Immigrants increase the demand for goods and services, which leads to job creation.
They increase and diversify the labour force thus adding to Australia's productive capacity. Immigrants also compete with existing residents for the jobs that are created as well as for job vacancies that become available. The impact of immigration on the rate of unemployment depends on the balance between these different factors. Immigrants who enter into business or obtain skilled employment soon after arrival in Australia generally have a highly positive impact on the economy and on the government finances. This in turn leads to a downward pressure on unemployment.