There are indications, moreover, that it has done some good, in terms of its evidently favourable, albeit small, effects on the unemployment rate and average income. Perhaps the most common complaint is that 'migrants are taking our jobs'. Foster shows the effect of immigration on unemployment is negligible and that migrants create at least as many jobs as they fill. Migrants may increase unemployment in certain regions or among certain occupations during a recession, but this is offset by their raising the overall level of demand, particularly for housing and household-related goods and services. This promotes both a higher level and a wider range of goods and services produced, stimulating the economy and job growth.
Migrants also bring new skills and experience to our workforce.
There has also been the complaint that migrants increase the need for spending on welfare, essential services and infrastructure. Many forget that as a group, immigrants bring considerable amounts of prior savings and proceeds from the sale of immovable assets, which are then used in Australia to establish a new set of assets. Another critical point to emerge is that the actual cost to government of a given intake of immigrants takes years to acquire a proper perspective. In real terms, the unemployment rates of an intake fall considerably over time. The initial high rate reflects the difficulties of all new entrants into the labour market, while the figures for established immigrants compare well with the Australian born.