Sydney at a Glance

Working in Sydney

Over 300,000 people are working in Sydney's central business district.

Are you planning on working in Sydney as an expatriate? InterNations helps you prepare for the transition: Get key information on finding work, obtaining the proper visa, and learning about Australian business etiquette. Read on to find out more about working in Sydney as an expatriate.

People from all over the world who are currently working in Sydney produce a quarter of Australia´s GDP. The capital of New South Wales is undisputedly the country´s financial hub. Most people working in Sydney are employed in property and business services, retail, manufacturing, and health & community services. Other major sectors providing employment to those working in Sydney 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 working in Sydney. During the 2007/2008 season, the city welcomed 2.7 million international tourists and nearly 8 million domestic visitors, and authorities are working hard to attract even more. On the whole, Sydney´s economy is growing faster than the national average. It is likely to keep attracting highly skilled people from abroad who want to give working in Sydney a go.

Working in Sydney: Business Locations

The City of Sydney is at the center of local business activity, providing jobs for 385,000 people, 300,000 of which 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. More than 40% of the people working in Sydney City were born overseas, with a further 17% and 9% coming from the UK and New Zealand respectively.

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 people living and working in Sydney 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.

Working in Sydney: 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 Skill Matching Database. Employers who cannot fill a skilled vacancy in their company often check this database in order to find qualified overseas people interested in working in Sydney.

In order to register, you will need to have your skills and qualifications recognized by an official Assessing Authority. Doing this could significantly enhance your prospects of working in Sydney in the near future. It also enables you to use use jobsearch.gov.au, the Australian Government´s extensive free online service for jobseekers and employers alike. There are many job portals catering to skilled overseas personnel thinking about working in Sydney.

Working in Sydney: Qualifications and Skills

Proficiency in English and an official skills assessment are requirements for most Australian working visas. A list of the relevant skills assessing authorities for each occupation and their contact details can be accessed through the Australian Government website of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

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 many visa sub-categories have their own skills assessment programs.

Working in Sydney: 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) on the website of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The TRA website provides guidance and online application forms for the different skills assessment programs. It also contains a section on obtaining an Australian Recognized Trade Certificate, although potential expats or migrants must wait until they are in Australia in order to apply.

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 regulated professions.