In our submission to the Department of Education and Training, ABDC recommends retaining accountants on the 2016-17 Skilled Occupation List (SOL) to meet term labour market demand for accountants.

According to CPA Australia and the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, accountants are projected to rank amongst the most highly sought after occupations in the medium and longer-term. Accountancy is not only a valuable skill for entry into the chartered accounting profession, but also a valuable skill for entry into any business or management career.

ABDC endorses the continued inclusion of accountants on the SOL and exclusion from the list of ‘flagged’ occupations for annual review. This continued status will create more ongoing certainty in Australia’s ability to meet future labour market projections for accountants. ABDC also recommends having an adjustable occupational ceiling and gauging of medium to long-term market demand for accountants be done in consultation with the professional accounting bodies and their industry partners.

ABDC members have developed a range of educational offerings and support services, and worked with the professional accounting bodies, to facilitate quality learning outcomes for accounting students, including international graduates.

See submission.