New South Wales and Victoria became home to the lion’s share of skilled migrant arrivals in 2008-09, according to new figures released today by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

The latest edition of DIAC’s Settler Arrivals publication shows that of the 69 456 skilled migrants who came to Australia, about 55 per cent moved to the two states, with a total of the 19 071 settling in New South Wales and 18 630 in Victoria.

Overall, Settler Arrivals 2008-09 shows New Zealand and the United Kingdom are the greatest source countries by birth for all settler arrivals, accounting for almost 30 per cent of the 158 021 permanent arrivals in 2008-09.

The next largest source countries were India (17 283 up from 15 338), China (15 803 up from 12 959) and South Africa (7201 up from 5166).

Settler Arrivals 2008-09 includes data on skilled, family and humanitarian settlers by state and birthplace. It is available on the department’s website at www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/index.htm.

Media Enquiries: National Communications Branch (02) 6264 2244