A new national report has found that more than 340,000 migrant and refugee women in Australia are working below their skill level, highlighting what advocates describe as a major but largely overlooked productivity problem.
The report, Activate Her Skills, produced by SSI in partnership with the Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance, argues that the issue is not a lack of capability among migrant women, but a “recognition gap” created by slow, costly and fragmented systems for assessing overseas qualifications.
It finds that many women who arrive in Australia with professional training and experience are unable to re-enter their fields due to lengthy assessments, high fees, rigid documentation requirements and unclear pathways into licensing and employment. Survey data cited in the report shows 59% of respondents identified delays as a major barrier, while 56% pointed to cost and 37% to overly rigid processes.
Advocates say this results in highly qualified women being pushed into lower-skilled jobs despite ongoing workforce shortages in sectors such as health, education and construction. The report estimates that fully utilising their skills could deliver an immediate boost to national productivity and ease critical labour shortages.
SSI chief executive Violet Roumeliotis said the system was effectively “locking out” skilled women, describing the problem as structural rather than individual. The report argues that current processes assume an “ideal worker” who can afford time, money and full-time retraining, which does not reflect the reality of many migrant women balancing work, study and caring responsibilities.
The report calls for sweeping reforms, including a single national system for skills recognition, reduced fees, clearer information through a central portal, and dedicated support services to guide applicants into relevant employment pathways.
It also recommends closer alignment between migration-related skills recognition and professional licensing, and the introduction of targeted support hubs to help migrant women navigate complex systems.
The findings come as Australia continues to face chronic skills shortages, with the report arguing that better integration of migrant women into skilled professions represents a “ready-made” economic solution.
In addition to economic modelling, the report draws on personal accounts from migrant women who describe stalled careers, financial pressure and long delays in having their qualifications recognised.
The authors say reform is urgent, warning that without change, Australia will continue to underuse a significant pool of talent at a time when demand for skilled workers remains high.
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