International graduates in Australia struggle to find jobs matching their qualifications – VnExpress International

LifeTrendArtsCelebritiesVogueLoveWellness

International graduates in Australia struggle to find jobs matching their qualifications

The 22-year-old applied to numerous companies, including the Big Four accounting firms, Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC, but secured only around five interviews, none of which led to a position in her chosen field

“The job market in Australia is incredibly competitive for international graduates because Big Four and large firms prefer hiring local candidates, while smaller firms prefer candidates with relevant work experience,” Nhi told VnExpress International

School of Business graduates toss their hats into the air outside the main building at the University of Sydney. Photo by Reuters

Having worked at the same store for nearly three years, she was promoted from sales associate to department manager about three months ago. Although she appreciates the stability of her job and the friendships she has developed with colleagues, her responsibilities largely involve customer service, leaving little opportunity to apply the financial knowledge she acquired at university

Nhi’s experience reflects a wider challenge facing international graduates in Australia, where earning a university degree does not necessarily lead to employment that makes full use of their qualifications

According to the Australian Department of Education’s 2025 Graduate Outcomes Survey, 26.3% of international undergraduate graduates and 38.7% of international postgraduate coursework graduates employed full-time felt their jobs did not fully utilize their skills or education

A 2025 study by Jobs and Skills Australia also found that international graduates who remained in the country were less likely than their domestic counterparts to secure work matching their qualifications and fields of study, and generally earned less

For some, the gap between education and employment has meant pursuing an entirely different career

Hari, an Indian man who earned a master’s degree in IT in Melbourne, struggled to find work related to his qualifications despite holding a two-year post-study work visa. Facing reluctance from employers to recruit graduates on temporary visas, he became an Uber driver and considered retraining as a carpenter in hopes of securing a different work visa

Employers’ hiring preferences are among the factors contributing to these difficulties, with some favoring Australian citizens and permanent residents over international graduates because of concerns about experience, work rights and long-term employment arrangements

“If I see 2 CVs in front of me, one has got 3 years of Australian experience in the job that we have available versus someone who has got 3 years of international experience, we will probably have a slight preference for the Australian experience simply because of the preparedness and readiness to transition into our organisation,” an engineering employer told Australian government agency Jobs and Skills Australia in a study.

Visa restrictions add another layer of uncertainty, particularly for businesses that need employees to remain in their roles for extended periods

The agency found that some employers were unfamiliar with the conditions attached to temporary visas and concerned about inadvertently breaching immigration rules, while others feared that international graduates might have to leave Australia before long-term projects were completed

International graduates commonly apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), which allows eligible applicants to work in Australia without employer sponsorship, generally for two to three years depending on their qualifications and circumstances. Those wishing to remain longer may need to obtain another visa, such as the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

For businesses, sponsoring foreign workers involves administrative requirements and costs, from obtaining sponsorship approval and nominating eligible positions to paying applicable fees and training levies, potentially making candidates with unrestricted work rights more attractive

“The longevity of the current visa within Australia, that’s a big factor for us, especially if we do have longer projects that we need people in those projects,” an engineering employer told researchers

Beyond immigration concerns, employers also question whether graduates possess the experience and skills needed to enter the workforce

The study found that some employers were concerned about international graduates’ limited practical experience, unfamiliarity with workplace technologies and communication skills

Some employers also raised concerns about English proficiency and familiarity with Australian workplace conventions, although the study noted that accents were sometimes mistaken for poor English skills

These barriers have become more difficult to navigate as Australia’s labor market has cooled, leaving employers more cautious about recruitment

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the economy grew by 0.3% in the March quarter and 0.4% in the June quarter of 2026, while a survey by the Australian HR Institute, cited by 9News, found that fewer than 60% of employers planned to hire staff in the second quarter

Meanwhile, Yahoo Financereported that annual employment growth slowed to 0.9% in April, compared with an average of 1.9% over the previous three years

“With economic uncertainty rising, businesses are expected to behave more cautiously, tempering hiring decisions and constraining employment growth over the coming year,” David Rumbens, a partner at Deloitte Access Economics, said

While a weaker labor market affects graduates generally, international graduates face additional competition from candidates who have unrestricted work rights, though prospects vary considerably depending on their field of study

The 2025 Graduate Outcomes Survey recorded relatively high full-time employment rates among international bachelor’s degree graduates in medicine (95.6%), pharmacy (89.7%), rehabilitation (81.1%) and veterinary science (76.9%)

To improve graduates’ employment prospects, Ly Tran, a Deakin University professor researching international graduate employment and post-study work rights, has called for greater understanding among employers of temporary graduate visas and the conditions under which international graduates can be recruited

She also urged universities to provide more tailored career support and students to develop employability skills, understand their work rights and prepare for the labor market earlier in their studies

For Nhi, those challenges have meant building a career in retail while keeping her original ambition of working in finance alive

After nearly three years at the store, she hopes to take the next step by applying for a store manager position once she has gained about six months of experience as a department manager. She believes the promotion could create an opportunity for employer sponsorship, although any work visa would depend on meeting the relevant requirements

At the same time, she continues searching for finance-related positions and may consider postgraduate study as her current visa approaches expiry

Drawing on her own experience, Nhi advises international students to take part-time jobs in retail or food and beverage businesses if they need an income, but to begin building professional networks and applying for internships before their final year ends. “If you are lucky, the company might offer you a full-time position after graduation,” she said

Get VnExpress first in Google Search
See more of the news you trust. Make VnExpress a preferred source to prioritise our updates in your Google search results

---

Source: e.vnexpress.net