The jobseeking experiences of skilled migrants in
Australia: An exploration of occupational mobility
outcomes
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Don Asanka Sanjeewa Livera Tennakoon
Master of Manufacturing Management – University of Colombo
Bachelor of Science – University of Kelaniya
School of Management
College of Business
RMIT University
September 2018
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Declaration
I certify that except where due acknowledgement has been made, the work is that of the
author alone; the work has not been submitted previously, in whole or in part, to qualify for
any other academic award; the content of the thesis is the result of work which has been
carried out since the official commencement date of the approved research program; any
editorial work, paid or unpaid, carried out by a third party is acknowledged; and, ethics
procedures and guidelines have been followed. Further, I acknowledge the support I have
received for my research through the provision of an Australian Government Research
Training Program Scholarship.
Don Asanka Sanjeewa Livera Tennakoon
17 September 2018
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Acknowledgements
First of all, I am eternally grateful to the participants of this research for their generosity in
sharing the lived experience of being skilled migrants to Australia. The way they have
navigated through the obstacles of life was truly inspiring. I hope that this thesis has delivered
the value and the recognition that their experience has well deserved.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my senior supervisor Associate Professor
Darryn Snell and associate supervisor Dr Margaret Heffernan OAM. Without their
mentoring, invaluable comments, constructive criticism and collegiality my journey of doing
this thesis would have been a lot more difficult.
Much appreciation should also be given to Dr Keith Toh for the invaluable insights on critical
realism led research and generous support in formatting the thesis. Further, my thankfulness
should also be extended to all of my colleagues at RMIT for the joyful and pleasant moments
throughout this journey.
Special thanks should also be extended to Lucy Gatto and her team in the Melbourne based
career counselling service from which the qualitative phase participants of the research were
sourced. Her generous support in hosting focus group discussions, research interviews and
sharing a wealth of information and insights has enriched the qualitative phase of the
research. Similarly, many thanks should also be given to Terry O’Reilly for letting me benefit
from his extensive experience in the career counselling industry and sharing his webinar
series with skilled migrant jobseekers.
Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt indebtedness to my parents for their selflessness
in raising me to who I am today and instilling the value of education. Similarly, I owe my
wife Vishani, and children Akein and Kiara, for their love and unwavering support
throughout many endeavours in life including this thesis.
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Table of Contents
DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................... I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................... II
TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... III
LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................ VIII
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. IX
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................... X
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. XI
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1
1.1 The context of the study .............................................................................................. 2
1.1.1 The change of policy orientation ......................................................................... 3
1.1.2 Divisions in the migration literature .................................................................... 4
1.2 The importance of the occupational mobility perspective ........................................... 8
1.3 Research objectives ..................................................................................................... 9
1.4 Research questions ..................................................................................................... 10
1.5 The researcher’s position in the research: An attempt to understand reflexivity ...... 10
1.6 Thesis structure .......................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................. 16
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 16
2.2 The terminological complexity of international mobility .......................................... 17
2.2.1 Terminology to demarcate skilled migrants ...................................................... 18
2.3 Key themes highlighted in the migration literature ................................................... 21
2.4 Downward occupational mobility as a global issue: Evidence from countries around
the world .................................................................................................................... 21
2.5 Skilled migrants’ employment outcomes in Australia: Some quantitative findings . 25
2.5.1 Official findings and mobility explanations from the DIBP .............................. 25
2.5.2 Alternative perspectives on skilled migrants’ employment outcomes .............. 27
2.6 Occupational mobility barriers for skilled migrants in Australia .............................. 28
2.6.1 The challenges in qualification recognition ....................................................... 29
2.6.2 The role of professional bodies, recruiters and other forms of labour market
‘gatekeepers’ ...................................................................................................... 30
2.6.3 Australian policies and regulations for equal employment opportunity (EEO) 32
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2.7 Structure–agency interplay in migrant employment .................................................. 33
2.8 Chapter summary ....................................................................................................... 35
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...................................................................... 37
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 37
3.2 Rejecting methodological individualism: Ontological, analytical and methodological
dualism ....................................................................................................................... 37
3.3 Structure–agency interplay: Ontological assumptions and epistemological
orientation .................................................................................................................. 38
3.4 The critical realists’ pathway: Ontological realism, epistemological relativism and
judgemental rationality .............................................................................................. 41
3.5 Methodological options for critical realist research .................................................. 42
3.6 Adoption of mixed research methodology ................................................................ 44
3.7 Defining research participants ................................................................................... 45
3.8 Research design ......................................................................................................... 46
3.8.1 Phase 1: Quantitative phase ............................................................................... 48
3.8.2 Phase 2: Qualitative phase ................................................................................. 50
3.9 Reliability and validity .............................................................................................. 55
3.10 Ethics consideration of the research .......................................................................... 56
3.11 Chapter summary ....................................................................................................... 56
CHAPTER 4 QUANTITATIVE FINDINGS .......................................................................... 57
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 57
4.2 Background to the CSAM dataset ............................................................................. 57
4.2.1 CSAM sample selection ..................................................................................... 59
4.2.2 Outliers, weighting and data coding .................................................................. 60
4.2.3 The sample used in this research: Skill stream primary applicants ................... 60
4.3 Characteristics of migrants skills and educational qualifications .............................. 62
4.3.1 The extent of home country educational qualifications and skills ..................... 62
4.3.2 Skilled migrants’ attainments of Australian qualifications ................................ 64
4.3.3 Skilled migrants’ visa reporting categories ........................................................ 64
4.4 Skilled migrants’ employment outcomes: A deeper examination ............................. 66
4.5 The extent of employment among skilled migrants .................................................. 70
4.6 The quantity of work secured by the skilled migrants ............................................... 72
4.7 Mapping skilled migrants’ occupational mobility ..................................................... 73