ABS Data Shows Falling Permanent Arrivals, Surge in Long-Term Visitor Departures

The latest migration data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals significant shifts in Australia’s migration trends. Permanent arrivals dropped by 5.6 percent, from 13,230 in August 2023 to 12,490 in August 2024. Similarly, long-term resident returns fell by 6.1 percent, from 12,080 to 11,350 during the same period. In contrast, long-term visitor departures surged by 18 percent, with numbers rising from 21,500 to 25,370 in the 12 months to August. This trend shift may be attributed to various factors, including economic uncertainty, inflation, and rising cost-of-living pressures, which could be deterring migrants and influencing long-term residents’ decisions to return. Gaurav Batra, who moved to Australia in April from India, explained that after five months of unsuccessful job searching, he temporarily returned to India to avoid depleting his savings....