More than half of international graduates work below their skill level: a reality check for Kenyan applicants
News · 2026-10-07 · 5 min read
Here is the headline for anyone in Kenya who hopes an Australian degree will lead straight to a skilled job: more than half of international graduates working in Australia are employed below their skill level. That is the finding of a federal government report which points to a major mismatch between education, migration and the jobs market. It does not say do not go. It says go with a plan for the job as well as the course.
How the study worked
The International Students Pathways and Outcomes Study, published in September 2025, followed people who began studying in Australia in 2010–11 and tracked their outcomes to the end of 2023. It looked at policy settings only up to the end of 2023, so it does not capture the changes introduced since under the Migration Strategy. That matters, because rules have moved on, but the patterns it describes still shape the debate in 2026.
The main numbers
| Question | What the study found |
|---|---|
| How many gained permanent residency within 10 years? | About 35 to 40 per cent of students who began in the early 2010s; more than half among higher education and vocational graduates who could be identified in linked tax and employment data |
| How many top-level graduates worked in lower-skilled jobs? | More than half of international graduates with qualifications matching the highest occupational skill level |
| How does that compare with local graduates? | About 20 to 30 per cent of domestic graduates worked below their qualification level |
| What about pay? | On average, international graduates earned less than domestic graduates with the same qualifications |
Graduates who stayed were also less likely to work in their field of study, especially higher education graduates compared with vocational education and training (VET) graduates.
Why it happens
The report names several barriers: English-language proficiency, limited practical Australian work experience, employer uncertainty about temporary visas, difficulty having overseas experience recognised, bias in recruitment, and some employers seeing international graduates as less job-ready. Some of these sit with employers, but several can be prepared for from Nairobi or Mombasa long before you board a plane.
What Kenyan applicants can do
- Treat English as a working skill. If a course, visa or employer asks for IELTS or PTE, practise early; PractiseNow offers practice for common tests.
- Look for placements, internships or part-time work that connect to your field so your CV shows Australian experience.
- Document what you have done at home. KCSE results, degree transcripts, KNEC and NITA trade test certificates and employer letters should be organised. A local qualification never automatically equals an Australian licence, skills assessment or registration.
- If a police certificate is requested, the DCI Certificate of Good Conduct from eCitizen is what to ask about, early.
- Check any adviser: a MARA registration for Australia, or a licensed immigration adviser or lawfully exempt person for New Zealand.
Common mistakes when planning study for work
One is assuming that staying in Australia equals working in your profession; the study shows the two often diverge. Another is choosing a course only because it might lead to a visa. A third is keeping overseas experience off the CV because it seems irrelevant, when employers having trouble recognising it is a named barrier. A fourth is waiting until graduation to approach employers. For more context, read what the data says about migrating to Australia and why duties matter more than job titles, or browse the jobs page.
Why the numbers matter to Canberra
International education contributed more than $50 billion to the economy in 2023–24, and students are increasingly seen as a possible source of skilled workers where there are shortages. The agency said graduates who stay could contribute significantly, but poor transitions into skilled jobs limit that potential.
The politics are active. A minor-party senator wants the intake cut sharply, while the federal Education Minister defended the system, saying most international students return home and that it makes sense to keep some graduates in needed occupations, such as doctors or nurses working in Australian hospitals for a period. The minister rejected calling the sector a farce while acknowledging that some dodgy providers have tried to exploit it. The government has set a national planning level of 295,000 commencements for 2026 and says it will keep that level in 2027. Commencements this year are down 8 per cent on the same period in 2025 and 13 per cent below 2019 levels.
Questions readers in Kenya ask
Does the study say graduates cannot find jobs?
No. It says many work below their skill level, and some do gain permanent residency.
Is the study up to date?
It examined policy settings only up to the end of 2023, before the Migration Strategy changes.
Are vocational graduates better off?
Higher education graduates were less likely to work in their field than VET graduates among those who stayed.
Where can I start looking for skilled roles?
Browse the jobs page and read the duties carefully.
Where do I check visa rules?
On the official visa listing.
What to remember
- More than half of top-level international graduates worked in lower-skilled jobs.
- About 35 to 40 per cent gained permanent residency within 10 years.
- Barriers include English, local experience, visa uncertainty, recognition and bias.
- Prepare for the job as well as the course.
#graduate jobs #skill mismatch #australia #international students #kenya #employment outcomes
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