Many people on Independent Skill and other special category visas are facing significant difficulties finding work in their areas of qualification -- or work at all.
That is one of the findings in the Scanlon Foundation report Australians Today that looks closely at social cohesion in the country.
The report's lead author, Monash University professor Andrew Markus, says the survey found those arriving on 457 visas are most successful as they have jobs arranged prior to their arrival.
Professor Markus says people who come as skilled migrants find it difficult to break into the work force.
"People who come as skilled migrants, who've passed the points test, gained admission into Australia, but having come independently without any jobs lined up, many of them report that it is very difficult to break into the job market. The requirement that they submit applications online doesn't necessarily work well for them. There's a sense maybe that jobs are being filtered in such a way that, you know, if you're identifiably of immigrant background, you've got less chance of actually being called up for an interview."
A participant explained her Muslim friend's experience.
"One of my friends, his name is Mohammed -- like, he's obviously Lebanese. Because his name was Mohammed, he didn't get a job on (the basis of) his resume, but, when he changed his name to Michael, he was called for an interview. As you can see, he's stereotyped straightaway."
Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, says employment discrimination is often apparent in how people treat different names.
"We know from research that, if you have an Anglo-Celtic or Anglo-Saxon name, then you're more likely to be invited to interview when you apply for a job, when compared to having an Asian or a Middle Eastern name. And this reflects how unconscious bias takes place, or is expressed, in employment settings. People may not always be conscious of their biases, but it can result in discrimination against people who don't have Anglo-Celtic or Anglo-Saxon names."
Many who arrived in Australia on humanitarian visas say they have experienced problems of economic integration.
Source: Getty images
Just 36 per cent indicated they were employed, while 20 per cent were looking for work and the remaining 44 per cent were not in the workforce.
Yet, most indicate a positive attitude to life in Australia and high levels of identification with the country.
Asked if they are satisfied with their lives, over 80 per cent indicated they were, and only 5 per cent said they were dissatisfied.
Andrew Markus says, despite many issues raised in the survey, Australia remains a good country for immigrants.
He says that view is supported by international country rankings.
"If we're going to just pick out one positive, it would be there's a wide measure of agreement that Australia is a good country for immigrants, good country for the native-born. You know, if it wasn't actually such a good country, there wouldn't be so many people trying to migrate to Australia."
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