3418.0 - Personal Income of Migrants, Australia, Experimental, 2010-11 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/12/2015   
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MEDIA RELEASE
3 December 2015
Embargo: 11:30 am (Canberra Time)
138/2015
Skilled migrant income $32 billion in 2010-11

Skilled migrant taxpayers contributed $32 billion, or 72 per cent to the total $45 billion in migrant income in 2010-11, say figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

“This is the second release of experimental data on migrants’ personal income. Results again show some distinct differences influenced by visa stream, number of jobs held, country of birth and gender,” said Jenny Dobak from the ABS.

In 2010-11, skilled migrant taxpayers were most likely to be born in the United Kingdom, India and China*, with almost half (49 per cent) hailing from these countries. Migrants from the United Kingdom reported the most income with $10 billion followed by Indian-born migrant taxpayers with $6.5 billion.

A case study on migrants born in China* showed that they received $3.3 billion in total income, of which $3 billion was Employee income. 70 per cent of Chinese*-born migrant taxpayers who reported Employee income were in the Skilled stream.

Another case study showed that migrants who held more than one job with a Skilled or Family visa recorded a decrease in their median Employee income whilst those on Humanitarian and Provisional visas who held more than one job recorded an increase in median Employee income.

About two-thirds of migrant taxpayers held a Skilled visa, with most between 25 to 44 years of age.

The data showed that Skilled migrant taxpayers:
    · generated 65 per cent ($1.5 billion) of total Own unincorporated business income.

    · reported $788.9 million in Investment income (62 per cent of the total).

    · recorded $215 million in Other income, with males responsible for 77 per cent ($164.6 million).

    · were mainly employed as Professionals (35 per cent) and Managers (11 per cent).



Gender, employment status, industry of employment and job history were significant factors influencing the level of income of migrants. Results showed that:

    · median Employee incomes for Skilled males exceeded Skilled females across all age groups.

    · 54 per cent of migrant taxpayers were males reporting 65 per cent or $29 billion of total income.

    · two thirds of Own unincorporated business income earners were males, who received 75 per cent or $1.7 billion of this type of income in 2010-11.



Further information can be found in Personal Income of Migrants, Experimental, Australia, 2010-11 (cat. no. 3418.0), available for free download from www.abs.gov.au.

Media notes:


    · This release presents detailed information on the sources of personal income that migrants received for the 2010-11 financial year, including Employee income, Own unincorporated business income, Investment income, Other income and Foreign income.

    · Data presented are limited to permanent migrants aged 15 years and over who have arrived in Australia between 1 January 2000 and 6 March 2013.

    · Other income includes transfer or trust income; foreign investment fund and/or foreign life insurance assurance policy income; controlled foreign company income; foreign salary/pension income; other net foreign source income; and other (including superannuation and annuity income). Data for superannuation and annuities are understated. See Explanatory Notes for more information.

    · China* excludes Taiwan and Special Administrative Regions (SARs) which comprise Hong Kong and Macau.

    · Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.

    · Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.