Migrants and refugees in Australia are overwhelmingly well educated, proficient in English, becoming citizens and earning and paying tax, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The latest ABS insights into citizenship, education, economic, health, and housing outcomes of permanent migrants in Australia, which are based on data mostly from 2023-24, paint a positive picture of migrants’ lives and contributions.

The data shows that 71 per cent of permanent migrants aged 15-64 years hold a non-school qualification.

The median total income for permanent migrants aged 15-64 years in 2023-24 was $70,762.

Almost 90 per cent of permanent migrants were proficient in English and 81 per cent of permanent migrants had accessed the health system.

The ABS data show more than half (59 per cent) of permanent migrants were Australian citizens and citizenship was highest for Skilled migrants (64 per cent), and lowest for Family migrants (48 per cent).

Citizenship take-up was higher for permanent migrants who had lived in Australia for longer.

It was 4.2 per cent for migrants who lived in Australia for less than 5 years, 77 per cent for migrants who lived in Australia for more than 10 years and highest for refugees (89 per cent) who have lived in Australia for more than 10 years.

The proportion of migrants aged 15-64 years with a non-school qualification was 71per cent for permanent migrants compared to 56 per cent for the total Australian population.

It was highest among skilled migrants (80 per cent) and lowest among refugees (36 per cent).

The ABS data shows that 74 per cent of migrants were employed and 4.5 per cent were unemployed, with 21 per cent not in the labour market.

This compares with 74 per cent employed, 4 per cent unemployed and 22 per cent not in the labour market across the whole of Australia’s population.

Employment outcomes proportions were highest for skilled migrants (82 per cent) and lowest for refugees (46 per cent).

The proportion of permanent migrants living in disadvantaged circumstances was 15 per cent, compared with 19 per cent of the whole Australian population.

Disadvantage was highest for refugees (44 per cent) and lowest for skilled migrants (7.9 per cent).

The proportion of permanent migrants who owned their home with a mortgage or outright was 62 per cent, compared with 69 per cent for the total population of Australia.

Home ownership was highest for skilled migrants (65 per cent) and lowest for Humanitarian migrants (38 per cent).

Home ownership was higher for permanent migrants who had lived in Australia for longer. The proportions were 38 per cent for migrants who lived in Australia for less than 5 years and 71 per cent for migrants who lived in Australia for more than 10 years.

Read the full report: Migrant settlement outcomes, 2026 | Australian Bureau of Statistics