Trade Occupations Migration Skill Assessment

Last Updated on July 13, 2025 by Ozlinks Education

What are trade occupations?

In Australia, trade occupations are characterised by the acquisition of specialised knowledge and skills through apprenticeships or practical work experience, equipping individuals with the necessary expertise rather than relying solely on academic degrees.

These trade positions are skilled manual roles that are essential for maintaining and developing crucial infrastructure and services within the automotive, manufacturing, and construction sectors.

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) serves as a crucial tool for analysing the labour market and for the planning of educational and migration programs. Within ANZSCO, trade occupations fall under Major Group 3: “Technicians and Trades Workers”. This classification is essential for both skilled migration and workforce planning.

ANZSCO major group 3 trade occupations

Major Group 3: Technicians and Trades Workers encompass a diverse range of occupations that necessitate practical, hands-on skills and often support activities within the scientific, engineering, construction, and manufacturing sectors. Examples of trade occupations include electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, chefs, and various other skilled manual workers.

There is a strong demand for skilled carpenters, electricians, bricklayers, plumbers, and many other skilled trade workers in Australia. If you have work experience in these trade occupations, you may be eligible to apply for the general skilled migration program under subclass 491, subclass 190, or subclass 189 visa. The current Australian Skilled Occupation List includes the majority of trade occupations.

Trade occupations in Australia

  • Building and Construction: Carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, tilers, concreters, and welders.
  • Automotive: automotive electricians, auto mechanics and panel beaters.
  • Manufacturing: machinists, boilermakers, fitters, and sheet metal workers.
  • Hospitality: Cook, chefs, baker, pastry cook

Here is an example of a trade occupation within Group 3 of ANZSCO, indicating that the ANZSCO code begins with the digit “3.”

The current Australian Skilled Occupation List

Below is the current Australian Skilled Occupation List, which includes various trade occupations. Please use the search function to verify whether your trade occupation is included on the skilled occupation list.

What is a migration skill assessment?

A migration skills assessment is a process in which a relevant assessing authority evaluates whether your qualifications, skills, and work experience meet the standards required for a specific skilled occupation in Australia. This assessment is often a requirement for skilled migration visa applications. It is a crucial step for many applicants, as it provides the Department of Home Affairs with evidence that you possess the necessary qualifications to seek employment in your nominated occupation for a visa application to Australia.

Skills Assessment Assistance

Each assessing authority has its own set of criteria, processes, and time limits for evaluating skills for immigration. The criterion is carried out by an assessing authority for your chosen ANZSCO occupational from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), which will be evaluated by the assessing authority according to appropriate professional standards.

The key to getting a good skill assessment result is to pick the right ANZSCO occupation based on your education and work experience. If you have worked in the same area in your home country, the job description for the ANZSCO occupation might be different. If you had an experienced agent who worked in document checking and knew the criteria, they could help you make the right choice from the start, saving you time and money and keeping you from making mistakes.

Ozlinks Education is a company that helps applicants understand what skills are needed for the exam. Based on your chosen ANZSCO occupational, we will be able to find the right assessing body and their requirements. Our knowledge with checking documents makes sure that you have all the paperwork needed for the skills assessment application criteria. With this process, we’ll be able to make sure your application has the best chance of being accepted.

What We Do

  • We assist you in choosing the relevant ANZSCO occupation based on your educational qualifications.
  • We will help you prepare all the necessary documents for your application.
  • Filling out the application form
  • Submitting your skills assessment application
  • Follow up with feedback if there are additional documents required by the assessing authority.

 

Skills Assessment Support

Fill out the form for a free application review.

 

Disclaimer: 

Information under ANZSCO Occupations (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) section is published in accordance with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence guideline. ANZSCO Version 1.3 updated on 25 March 2021 and original source can be accessed on Australian Bureau of Statistics website.

This section does not intend to provide immigration assistance pursuant to section 276 of Migration Act (Cth) 1994 as described in the Migration laws. It is based on public guidelines available at Department of Home Affairs’ Website. It is your responsibility to verify accuracy and status of provided information with your Registered Migration Agent (RMA) who is bound by the MARA code of conduct before submitting any visa applications.