Winning a Subclass 190 invitation has become less about chasing Australia’s most popular occupations and more about understanding what individual states actually need. Every state and territory receives a limited number of nomination places each year and uses them to solve local workforce shortages rather than national ones. An engineer may struggle to receive attention in one state while being highly sought after in another. The same applies to nurses, teachers, IT professionals, tradespeople, and construction specialists. State nomination programs are specifically designed to address regional labour gaps, with each jurisdiction setting its own nomination priorities and criteria.
Instead of treating the Subclass 190 visa as simply another permanent residency pathway, successful applicants focus on occupations that consistently appear across multiple state nomination programs.
Healthcare Continues to Dominate State Nomination
Healthcare remains Australia’s strongest nomination category because workforce shortages affect every state and territory. Public hospitals, regional health services, aged care providers, and community healthcare organisations continue expanding recruitment for qualified professionals.
| Occupation | Typical Salary (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 80,000–120,000 |
| Midwife | 85,000–125,000 |
| Physiotherapist | 85,000–120,000 |
| Occupational Therapist | 90,000–125,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | 80,000–115,000 |
| Radiographer | 90,000–130,000 |
Healthcare professionals frequently benefit because demand exists across metropolitan hospitals and regional communities alike, making them valuable to multiple state nomination programs.
Engineering Occupations Remain Strong Across Australia
Infrastructure spending continues to create long-term demand for engineers involved in transport, mining, utilities, manufacturing, defence, renewable energy, and commercial construction.
The occupations attracting consistent interest include:
| Engineering Occupation | Major Industry |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | Infrastructure |
| Mechanical Engineer | Manufacturing |
| Electrical Engineer | Energy |
| Structural Engineer | Construction |
| Mining Engineer | Resources |
| Environmental Engineer | Water & Sustainability |
Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia continue investing heavily in mining, energy and infrastructure projects, while New South Wales and Victoria maintain strong demand through transport and commercial developments.
Technology Professionals Continue Expanding Their Opportunities
Digital transformation has pushed technology occupations higher on many state priority lists.
Strong opportunities continue for:
- Software Engineers
- Cybersecurity Specialists
- ICT Business Analysts
- Cloud Engineers
- Systems Administrators
- Network Engineers
- Data Engineers
- AI Specialists
Rather than recruiting for general IT experience, employers increasingly seek professionals with cloud platforms, cybersecurity, automation, enterprise software, and data infrastructure expertise.
Education Remains a Reliable Pathway
Teacher shortages continue affecting several Australian jurisdictions, particularly outside major cities.
Occupations regularly appearing include:
| Teaching Profession | Employment Sector |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Teacher | Childcare |
| Secondary School Teacher | Public Education |
| Special Education Teacher | Inclusive Education |
| Mathematics Teacher | Secondary Schools |
| Science Teacher | Public & Private Schools |
Regional schools often experience greater recruitment pressure than metropolitan areas, creating additional nomination opportunities.
Construction and Trades Continue Benefiting From Infrastructure Growth
Australia’s investment in housing, transport corridors, logistics centres, hospitals and renewable energy has increased demand for experienced construction professionals.
High-demand occupations include:
- Construction Project Manager
- Quantity Surveyor
- Electrician
- Carpenter
- Plumber
- Bricklayer
- Steel Fixer
- Surveyor
Many of these occupations support projects funded years into the future, providing relatively stable recruitment demand.
Mining and Energy Are Driving Western Australia
Few sectors influence state nominations as strongly as mining and energy. Professionals working in these industries continue finding opportunities in:
- Mining Engineering
- Process Engineering
- Geology
- Heavy Mechanical Maintenance
- Electrical Power Systems
- Industrial Automation
- Process Control
- Metallurgy
As investment continues across critical minerals and renewable energy, technical specialists remain valuable to employers operating in regional Australia.
Which States Need Which Skills?
Although occupation lists change throughout the year, certain patterns remain consistent.
| State | Occupations Often Prioritised |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Technology, Healthcare, Construction |
| Victoria | Engineering, Healthcare, Digital Industries |
| Queensland | Construction, Education, Healthcare |
| Western Australia | Mining, Engineering, Energy |
| South Australia | Defence, Manufacturing, Health |
| Tasmania | Healthcare, Education |
| Northern Territory | Construction, Regional Health |
| ACT | ICT, Cybersecurity, Professional Services |
Each jurisdiction publishes its own nomination criteria, meaning applicants should always review current state requirements before lodging or updating an Expression of Interest.
Occupations Growing Faster Than Many Applicants Realise
Several industries are expanding because of long-term government investment rather than temporary hiring cycles. Professionals working in these areas may benefit from increasing demand over the coming years:
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Grid Modernisation Specialists
- Battery Storage Engineers
- Defence Systems Engineers
- Building Information Modelling (BIM) Specialists
- Industrial Automation Engineers
- Water Infrastructure Engineers
- Environmental Scientists
These occupations align closely with Australia’s infrastructure and energy transition strategies, creating demand beyond traditional construction projects.
Position Yourself for State Nomination
Occupation alone rarely secures nomination. Strong applicants usually combine recognised qualifications with practical experience and evidence that they can contribute immediately after arriving in Australia.
Applications become more competitive when candidates demonstrate:
- Positive skills assessment
- Strong English language results
- Several years of relevant experience
- Professional registration where required
- Employment history that matches the nominated occupation
- An accurate and up-to-date Expression of Interest
States compare applicants within the same occupation, so stronger profiles generally receive invitations ahead of candidates who simply meet the minimum eligibility threshold.
Regional Australia Is Creating New Opportunities
One of the biggest shifts in recent years has been the growing importance of regional Australia. Population growth outside major cities has increased demand for professionals across healthcare, education, engineering, agriculture, manufacturing and construction.
Regional employers often struggle to recruit locally, making overseas professionals an important part of their long-term workforce planning.
Occupations seeing consistent demand in regional areas include:
| Occupation | Common Regional Employers |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | Regional Hospitals |
| General Practitioner | Community Health Services |
| Secondary School Teacher | Public Schools |
| Electrician | Infrastructure Contractors |
| Civil Engineer | Local Government Projects |
| Diesel Mechanic | Mining & Agriculture |
| Surveyor | Construction Firms |
| Agricultural Engineer | Agribusiness Companies |
Applicants willing to establish themselves outside Australia’s largest cities often find a broader range of nomination opportunities than those focusing only on Sydney or Melbourne.
Industries Likely to Influence Future Nomination Rounds
State nomination priorities continue to evolve alongside Australia’s economy. While healthcare and engineering remain strong, several industries are expected to generate sustained demand over the next decade because of public investment and private-sector expansion.
These include:
- Renewable energy generation
- Battery manufacturing
- Critical minerals and mining
- Defence manufacturing
- Semiconductor production
- Advanced manufacturing
- Water infrastructure
- Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity
- Major transport infrastructure
- Aged care services
Professionals already working in these sectors may benefit as states adjust their occupation priorities to support long-term economic development.
Choosing the Right Strategy
Many applicants submit Expressions of Interest to every state without understanding where their occupation is genuinely competitive. A more effective strategy is to identify the jurisdictions actively investing in your profession and tailor your migration plan accordingly.
For example:
- Mining and resource professionals often have stronger prospects in Western Australia.
- Defence and advanced manufacturing specialists may find better opportunities in South Australia.
- ICT professionals frequently target New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
- Healthcare workers remain competitive across almost every state because demand is widespread.
- Teachers often benefit from shortages in regional education systems rather than major metropolitan schools.
Matching your occupation with the state’s economic priorities usually produces better outcomes than simply applying everywhere.
The Bottom Line
The Subclass 190 visa is ultimately driven by Australia’s labour market, not by popularity. States nominate skilled migrants because they need people who can fill genuine workforce gaps, support economic growth and strengthen essential industries.
Healthcare professionals, engineers, technology specialists, teachers, construction experts and skilled tradespeople continue to dominate nomination programs because demand remains strong across multiple jurisdictions. However, success depends on targeting the right state, understanding its workforce priorities and presenting a professional profile that stands out among applicants in the same occupation.
For skilled professionals planning permanent migration, focusing on where your occupation is genuinely needed is often more valuable than chasing the most competitive states or relying on outdated occupation lists.