New research reveals migrant engineers could boost GDP by $2.56 billion by 2030

migrant engineers, skilled migrant category, skilled migrants,

November 18, 2025

Australia could boost its GDP simply by unlocking the potential of migrant engineers already living and working in the country.

New research from Engineers Australia shows that better harnessing Australia’s migrant engineering talent in 80,000 engineering roles in key sectors like manufacturing, renewables, construction and mining could  lift GDP by $2.56 billion by 2030.  

Of Australia’s 266,000 overseas born engineers, half are not in engineering roles. This compares with two thirds of Australian-born engineers working in engineering roles. 

The new analysis by Bondi Partners estimates that if migrant engineers filled half of today’s engineering vacancies (around 4,500 roles), took up 36,000 engineering jobs in four priority sectors and supported an additional 47,200 engineering-adjacent roles, national output could increase by $3.72 billion.

Engineers Australia National President and Chair Dr Raj Aseervatham said the findings underline the economic value of placing overseas born engineers into high-skill, high-wage roles.

“Unlocking the skills potential of migrants is one of the smartest ways to strengthen Australia’s productivity. This research shows one of the key ways to address the skills shortfalls we face could be to take a closer or second look at the migrant talent already here,” Dr Aseervatham said.

“As an overseas-born engineer who completed my degree in Queensland, I know first hand the opportunities Australia can offer. But too many skilled migrants face systemic barriers that need a coordinated response. Solving this requires joined-up action from industry and government, at scale and with intent.”

The analysis builds on previous research from Settlement Services International, which found Australia could unlock $9 billion annually by better using migrant skills, with 44 per cent of migrants currently working below their qualification level.

Despite their strong credentials, migrant engineers often encounter bias, underemployment and unequal pay. Research from CEDA shows female migrants with a postgraduate degree earn 31 per cent less than Australian-born women with the same qualifications. Migrants who have lived in Australia for two to six years earn about 10 per cent less than their Australian-born peers.

Engineers Australia’s Barriers to Employment for Migrant Engineers report (2021) identified common hurdles, including a lack of local networks, concerns about international qualifications and limited Australian experience. Some employers also viewed migrant engineers as a flight risk.

Employers’ guide to supporting migrant Engineers in the workplace

Are you a Migrant Engineer in Australia with no local experience?

In response, Engineers Australia has expanded support through targeted programs and professional networks. These include events run by the Overseas Engineers Group, a job-matching pilot for overseas qualified engineers led by the Western Australia Diversity and Inclusion group and the Sydney Migrant Engineers Group, which received the President’s Prize for its innovative work in opening doors for migrant professionals.

“The talent is here. The need is building fast. The challenge now is to close the gap between potential and opportunity,” said Dr Aseervatham.

Economic impact of better utilising migrant engineers (Engineers Australia, Bondi Partners analysis)

Utilising overseas-born engineers in the following ways could deliver significant economic gains between 2025 and 2030:

• 2500 migrant engineers filling half of Australia’s advertised engineering vacancies
• 36,000 migrant engineers employed across four engineering-intensive growth sectors: manufacturing, renewables, construction and mining
• 47,200 migrant engineers placed in engineering-adjacent roles such as planners and technicians
• Projected benefits:
  • $3.72 billion increase in industry output (net present value)
  • $2.56 billion lift in GDP through reallocation of migrant engineers from lower-skilled, lower-paid roles into high-skill, high-wage positions

Key stats 

• 62% of Australia’s 433,000-strong engineering workforce is overseas-born
• In the five years to 2021, 70% of new engineers entering the workforce were born overseas
• 48% of overseas-born engineers (around 133,000) are underutilised and not working directly in engineering roles. This compares to 35% (around 57,000) of Australian-born engineers not working directly in engineering roles.
• Migrants in Australia are more qualified on average – 63% hold a non-school qualification compared to 56% of Australian-born people (ABS).
• 55% of recent migrants hold a bachelor’s degree
• Being overseas-born does not always mean overseas-trained – many migrant engineers may have studied at Australian universities after schooling locally

Learn more about the economic contributions of migrant engineers.

Source: Engineers Australia

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