Employer and recruiter racism in Adelaide and South Australia is slaying the dreams of many Indians and Asians.
They are leaving and migrating to countries where their skills, qualifications and experience are valued.
The visa system means many migrants come to Adelaide or the regions, where they must stay for two years before they can move to the bigger cities.
They are trapped in unemployment, under employment and a crushing poverty cycle.
An ABC report recently found that employment racism was endemic in Australia.
“Many of [the migrants] feel that their skills and qualifications are not really properly recognised in the system,” Professor Mansouri a migration expert from Deakin University said.
The lack of broader support schemes like child care and parent reunion was also problematic.
“In many cultures globally, the idea of family is not just … the two parents and the kids,” Professor Mansouri said. “One of the key considerations for migrants will be if they can bring a parent.
“Indian migrants should be looking at alternative options to where they would like to settle.”
A 2021 Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)’s report found nearly a quarter of permanent skilled migrants in Australia were working in a job beneath their skill level.
This skills mismatch cost at least $1.25 billion in foregone wages between 2013 and 2018.
Former CEDA senior economist Gabriela D’ Souza, who wrote the report, said one of the reasons why migrants in the survey said they were having difficulty getting jobs was because of a lack of local experience.
“For me, that screams … red flag,” she said. “What is it about doing a job in Australia that is so different to doing it in another country? Racism is an issue.”
Ms D’Souza said Australia really needed to grapple with its attitudes towards migrants if it wanted to stand a chance against other countries.
Indrakshi Sreeram moved to Australia 12 years ago with her parents.
“There is subtle racism,” Ms Sreeram said. “Though, they do not openly tell you that you are an Indian … because code of conduct does not permit to discriminate people within the organisation. But when it comes to career growth or identifying the right candidate for promotion or increment, I will not be the one they opt for.”