Australia Losing $104 Billion in Economic Value Due to Migrant Workforce Barriers: Education Giant

Pearson’s research found a 91 percent employment rate among international students and skilled migrants.

A protester holding a placard reading "Migrants are not the problem, government is the problem," in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 13, 2025. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

The company contracted by Home Affairs to test migrants’ English proficiency claims Australia is losing about $104 billion in productivity a year due to the difficulties transitioning migrants into the workforce.

Pearson provides the internationally recognised Pearson Test of English which is used by Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and 116 other countries to test language proficiency among migrants.