NSW Skilled Migration Update: Onshore 190 Invitations and Four-Year Strategic Plan

New South Wales has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to a structured and strategic migration system through the NSW State Migration Plan 2024-2028, aligning with the Australian Government’s national migration priorities. The plan, designed as a four-year framework, focuses on strengthening critical industries and addressing persistent skills shortages through targeted skilled migration.

This week, NSW conducted a small, targeted invitation round for onshore applicants under Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa). While limited in scale, the round offers valuable insights into the State’s current occupational priorities and the competitive points landscape.

These are the lowest cut-off points (excluding state nomination points) for applicants with below nominated occupations:

• Architectural Draftsperson : 90 points

• Carpenter/Joiner : 70 points

• Civil Engineer : 100 points

• Construction Project Manager : 85 points

• Electrician : 75 points

• Joiner : 70 points

These figures suggest NSW continues to favour occupations that align closely with its Critical Skills Areas, particularly Construction, Infrastructure, and Housing—key pillars outlined in the Migration Plan. The emphasis on construction-related trades and engineering roles reflects the state’s focus on boosting housing supply and delivering major infrastructure commitments.

The NSW State Migration Plan 2024–2028 highlights six critical skills areas:

• Construction (infrastructure and housing)

• Net Zero and Energy Transition

• Care and Support Economy

• Digital and Cyber

• Agriculture and Agrifood

• Advanced Manufacturing

By adopting a multi-year approach, NSW aims to improve system coordination, accelerate visa processing, and ensure migration complements domestic training efforts. The focus is not merely on filling vacancies but on creating sustainable workforce pipelines that strengthen both metropolitan and regional economies.

The latest invitation data indicates that competitiveness remains high and focus remains particularly for engineering and technical trades, where scores above 85 are common. Onshore candidates with skilled employment and superior English proficiency continue to stand out.

As NSW advances its long-term migration strategy, applicants aligned with the state’s priority sectors -especially construction and infrastructure are likely to remain in strong consideration for nomination.

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