International Graduates Earn Less — But It’s Not Just About the Job Market

Reports from QILT, Jobs & Skills Australia, and SBS News confirm that international graduates in Australia earn significantly less than domestic graduates, in some cases by $10,000 to $40,000 a year.

• International graduates are more likely to work below their qualification level.
• They earn less
• They struggle to secure roles aligned with their studies.

But here’s what rarely gets discussed:

• It’s not just about visas or local experience, it’s also about working-level English.
• Many international students enter university with IELTS or PTE scores high enough for admission.
• But a high test score doesn’t equal professional communication.

Once in the workplace, many struggle to:

• Express ideas clearly and persuasively in meetings.
• Contribute to discussions with confidence.
• Write professional emails or reports with nuance and tone.
• Understand informal communication or cultural cues.
  

Employers notice this gap instantly. And while technical skills matter, clarity and confidence in English often determine who gets promoted, trusted, or retained.

Australia’s education providers have focused heavily on academic English.

•  But we’ve neglected workplace English, which is needed for negotiation, collaboration and leadership.

If we want international graduates to achieve true equity in employment, it’s time that the education providers:

• Embed workplace communication skills into all programs.
• Create bridges between academic study and real-world work communication.
• Stop assuming an IELTS score equals readiness for the Australian workplace.

The future of international education isn’t just enrolments it’s outcomes for real life. And outcomes depend on language, confidence, and real-world communication.

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