ELICOS commencements fall 60.2% for August 2021 YTD
As we move towards the stronger spring months that typify the ELICOS sector, little has changed in the YTD numbers. The 60.2% decline in August represents what has become a standard fall for 2021. Declines across all states are holding steady, ranging from Tasmania’s low of 51.9% to Queensland’s high of 65.3%. For perspective, 1994 saw 26,173 ELICOS students, we are two-thirds into 2021 with August’s data set and have seen 20,816.
Thailand tumbles in the top-10 while Spain disappears entirely
The order of the top-10 source countries for Australia’s ELICOS sector has changed somewhat during the course of the pandemic. Nepal has risen to become the third biggest source country for ELICOS while Thailand has dropped to 10th. Spain has completely disappeared from the top-10 indeed from the top-15 source countries and now sits at 20th position. While there may be a lot of factors at play in causing these changes, how these changes play out upon Australia’s borders reopening may need to be considered by providers. Given Thailand and Spain’s decline, will their recovery be slower than Nepal’s, for instance.
Offshore independent ELICOS-only visa lodgements rise but real numbers still incredibly low
August, as with the past few months of 2021, has risen in offshore independent ELICOS-only visa lodgements, recording 178 applications. This builds on the 158 lodgements seen in July, 161 in June and 129 in May. The numbers, of course, are infinitesimal (August 2019 had 2,842 offshore lodgements), but that they are increasing is a somewhat positive sign.
ELICOS market analysis: August 2021
DET Summary Report
DET Detailed Report
