South Australia Invitation Round: Major Invitation Surge in May 2026 Favors Healthcare, Engineering & ICT Professionals

By Vikrant Singh, May 12, 2026

Australia’s 2025–26 General Skilled Migration program continues to gain momentum, with Skilled and Business Migration issuing another strong round of invitations in May 2026. The latest figures reveal a growing demand for skilled professionals across healthcare, engineering, ICT, construction, and education sectors, signaling excellent opportunities for overseas applicants seeking Australian permanent residency pathways.

A total of 509 invitations were issued in May 2026 alone, bringing the cumulative invitations for the 2025–26 program year to an impressive 2,615 invitations across Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visa streams.

Healthcare professionals once again dominated the invitation round, while ICT, engineering, construction trades, and education occupations also witnessed strong selection activity.

Key Highlights from the May 2026 Invitation Round

• Health Professionals received the highest number of invitations with 141 invitations

• Engineering, Science & Transport Professionals followed closely with 72 invitations

• Education Professionals secured 49 invitations

• Strong demand continues for:

  • ICT Professionals

  • Construction Trades Workers

  • Engineering Technicians

  • Health & Welfare Support Workers

The data also confirms that regional migration remains a major priority, with a significant number of invitations issued under the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa stream.

Detailed Invitation Table — May 2026

ANZSCO Sub-major Group	Subclass 190	Subclass 491	Total Invitations (May 2026)	2025–26 Subclass 190 Total	2025–26 Subclass 491 Total	2025–26 Total
Specialist Managers	8	3	11	97	35	132
Hospitality, Retail & Service Managers	0	2	2	0	28	28
Business, HR & Marketing Professionals	0	16	16	30	104	134
Design, Engineering, Science & Transport Professionals	57	15	72	334	93	427
Education Professionals	32	17	49	137	36	173
Health Professionals	128	13	141	550	23	573
ICT Professionals	0	28	28	7	230	237
Legal, Social & Welfare Professionals	8	2	10	59	14	73
Engineering, ICT & Science Technicians	4	34	38	40	141	181
Automotive & Engineering Trades Workers	29	11	40	78	42	120
Construction Trades Workers	14	30	44	141	86	227
Electrotechnology & Telecommunications Trades Workers	10	0	10	106	14	120
Food Trades Workers	0	2	2	0	21	21
Skilled Animal, Agricultural & Horticultural Workers	0	2	2	0	4	4
Health & Welfare Support Workers	3	19	22	17	98	115
Sports & Personal Service Workers	1	0	1	1	0	1
Office Managers & Program Administrators	0	9	9	9	40	49
TOTAL	295	214	509	1606	1009	2615

Healthcare Sector Continues to Lead Australian Migration Demand

The healthcare industry remains Australia’s top priority occupation sector in 2026. With hospitals, aged care facilities, and regional healthcare providers facing ongoing workforce shortages, the government continues to prioritize occupations such as:

• Registered Nurses

• Medical Laboratory Scientists

• Physiotherapists

• Occupational Therapists

• General Practitioners

• Mental Health Professionals

The issuance of 573 total invitations to Health Professionals this program year clearly demonstrates Australia’s long-term reliance on overseas skilled talent.

ICT & Engineering Occupations See Strong Regional Demand

The May 2026 figures also highlight growing regional demand for:

• Software Engineers

• ICT Business Analysts

• Cyber Security Specialists

• Civil Engineers

• Mechanical Engineers

• Engineering Technicians

Interestingly, ICT Professionals received the majority of invitations through the Subclass 491 regional stream, indicating that regional Australia is actively attracting technology talent to support digital growth initiatives outside major metropolitan areas.

Construction & Trades Occupations Remain Critical

Australia’s infrastructure expansion and housing shortages continue driving invitations for skilled trades workers. Construction Trades Workers secured 44 invitations in May alone, while Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers received 40 invitations.

Occupations currently benefiting include:

• Electricians

• Plumbers

• Carpenters

• Welders

• Diesel Mechanics

• Construction Supervisors

Another Invitation Round Expected in May 2026

Skilled and Business Migration has confirmed that the next invitation round is expected to take place in mid to late May 2026, creating another opportunity for eligible applicants to secure nomination under Australia’s skilled migration pathways.

Migration experts advise applicants to ensure that:

• Skills assessments remain valid

• EOIs are updated

• English test scores are current

• State nomination requirements are carefully reviewed

With invitation activity remaining strong across multiple sectors, the 2025–26 migration program continues to offer promising opportunities for skilled professionals planning their future in Australia.

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