Australia Multiculturalism Boom: A Closer Look at a Surging Population

In 2023, Australia experienced an extraordinary surge in migration, establishing itself as a favoured destination for individuals in search of fresh opportunities. Beyond the personal narratives of those who opted for Australia as their new home, the influx of migrants has profound implications for the nation's economy, infrastructure, and the collaborative efforts of businesses and the government in supporting these new community members.

Population growth stands out as a significant driver of Australia's economic expansion. It reached a notable 3.0% in 2022-23, following a robust growth of 4.3% in the preceding year, 2021-22. This growth underscores the sustained recovery of the economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitated by the absence of border restrictions and lockdown measures throughout the entire 2022-23 period.

In light of these developments, it becomes imperative to examine consequences of the Australia migration surge in 2023. Additionally, there is a need to discuss the proactive measures that both businesses and government can implement to ensure a seamless integration process for the influx of new migrants into the Australian community.

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A New Australian is arriving every 50 seconds!

In FY23, Australia recorded a 41% increase in Net Overseas Migration compared to the previous record set in 2009. This means a total of 518,000 net new migrants arrived in Australia in FY23.

Migrants from India, China, Nepal and the Philippines were responsible for the majority of the migration growth over this period. Australia continues to be a culturally and linguistically diverse country with the growth of communities from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iraq and the Philippines. 

Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people who used a language other than English at home increased by 16.6% - close to 1M people.

The largest changes in the languages spoken in Australia between 2016 and 2021 were for those using:

• Punjabi (+106,541 persons)
• Mandarin (+88,565 persons)
• Nepali (+71,073 persons)
• Arabic (+45,434 persons)

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Want to learn more?

We have prepared a detailed report explaining how your organisation can capitalise on the Aussie Migration Boom by understanding what's driving the growth and how your language services strategy must shift to ensure you're not left behind.

To get your free report now, please click here