Sydney at a Glance
Working in Sydney
iStockphotoOver 300,000 people are working in Sydney's central business district.
The Sydney metropolitan area produces nearly a quarter of Australia’s GDP every year. Sydney is undisputedly the country’s financial hub. Most people working in Sydney are employed in property and business services, retail, and manufacturing, as well as health and community services. Other major sectors are information, media and technology, creative and performing arts.
Tourism, although not formally classified as an industry, is also a steady source of employment for many people working in Sydney. During the 2011/2012 season, the city welcomed 2.6 million international tourists and 7.8 million domestic visitors, and authorities are working hard to attract even more.
However, Sydney´s economic growth – while still solid – has been slowing down lately. The city government needs to attract highly skilled people, e.g. from abroad, who want to give working in Sydney a go.
Business Locations
The City of Sydney is at the center of local business activity, providing jobs for circa 4% of the entire Australian workforce. More than 40% of the people working in Sydney City were born overseas, e.g. in China, New Zealand, or the UK.
Most of all these people are nowadays working in Sydney Central. The latter is an area comprising the Sydney Central Business District, Pyrmont-Ultimo, East Sydney, and the so-called Knowledge and Enterprise precinct around Redfern-Waterloo, Sydney University, and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
The city’s Economic Development Strategy emphasizes the importance of local “places” for business in a global economy in order to maintain the high standards that residents are accustomed to. The bigger picture of the city’s economy reflects this development. The metropolitan area is developing its own business locations, with many global firms and large numbers of overseas employees now operating and working in Sydney’s metropolitan centers.
Getting a Job
Working in Sydney doesn´t need to remain a distant dream! If you are looking for work prior to your arrival, your first step should be to register with the Australian government’s SkillSelect Database. Employers who are unable fill a skilled vacancy in their company can check this database in order to find qualified candidates from overseas.
In order to register, you need to have your skills and qualifications recognized by an official Assessing Authority. Doing this could significantly enhance your prospects of finding a job in Sydney in the near future. It also enables you to use Australian JobSearch, the government´s extensive free online service for jobseekers and employers alike. There are also quite a few job portals catering to skilled overseas candidates.
Qualifications and Skills
Proficiency in English and an official skills assessment are requirements for most Australian working visas. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship also provides an overview of visa categories plus required skills recognition on the Australian Skills Recognition Information pages. Your visa application form usually contains details regarding the kind of assessment or recognition required, as visa sub-categories may have their own skills assessment programs.
Practicing a Trade
If you are working in a particular trade overseas and would like to continue this job in Sydney, you should consult Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). The TRA website provides guidance concerning the different skills assessment programs for working in Sydney, e.g. for permanent and temporary skilled migration.
Before practicing your trade in Sydney, it is recommended you check the State Training Services website of the NSW Department of Education and Training to find out whether there are any state-specific requirements for your trade. This website also contains information on where to obtain a license for selected trades, like repairing motor vehicles.
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