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PALM scheme data

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Data for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, including information about participating workers and employers, is published here and is updated monthly. Horticulture

For workers, information is provided about their country of origin, the industry they are working in, their participation in the short-term or long-term PALM scheme streams, and the Australian state or territory where they work. 

For employers, information about the number and type of employers is available.  

Data users should note PALM scheme activity may be affected by seasonal patterns, including the nature of work in agriculture or workers returning home for holidays. Worker and employer participation may vary from month to month. Conclusions about long-term program trends should not be made based on monthly movements. 

PALM scheme quarterly data report

The quarterly data report presents longer-term trends and analysis of PALM scheme data. The June quarter 2025 PALM scheme quarterly data report was released on 12 September 2025 and can be downloaded here.

 

PALM scheme key monthly data

Key worker and employer data - August 2025

Source: DEWR, PALM scheme, August 2025.

 

PALM scheme worker data

In August 2025:

  • there were 30,215 workers participating in the scheme
  • 14,300 were short-term workers and 15,920 were long-term workers.

 

PALM scheme workers by state and territory 

Figure 1: PALM scheme workers by state and territory, August 2025

Worker data by state and territory - August 2025

Source: DEWR, PALM scheme, August 2025.

PALM scheme workers’ country of origin

Figure 2: PALM scheme workers by country of origin, August 2025

FijiKiribatiNauruPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTimor-LesteTongaTuvaluVanuatu
5,1751,555352,1952,2104,8654,3553,4752956,055

Source: DEWR, PALM scheme, August 2025. 

PALM scheme workers’ participation by industry 

Figure 3: PALM scheme workers by industry, August 2025

Workers by industry - August 2025 data

Source: DEWR, PALM scheme, August 2025. 

PALM scheme employer data

In August 2025:

  • there were 520 approved PALM scheme employers
  • 412 employers were direct employers and 108 were labour hire companies.
 

More information 

Published PALM scheme data is sourced from administrative records captured by DEWR. It includes workers on the Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403), Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream. Workers on the relevant Subclass 408 visa holders (pandemic event) have been included where possible.

Recent changes

The Pandemic event (subclass 408) visa closed to all applications in February 2024 and is no longer being granted for the purposes of participating in the PALM scheme. The number of PALM scheme workers holding a 408 visa has been reducing over time, particularly from September 2023 when it closed to new applications. Due to the very small numbers, the department ceased including 408 visa holders in published PALM scheme worker counts from January 2025. See publication table notes for more information. 

Data publication

PALM scheme data is also available on data.gov.au, the central source of Australian open government data. 

Data is published monthly, usually in the last week of each month. This timeframe can vary, usually due to the impact of public holidays or short months. The expected publishing date may also change for a range of reasons including lags in receiving data, or unanticipated resourcing pressures.

Expected publishing dates:

Data periodExpected publishing date
September 20254 November 2025 
October 20251 December 2025
November 202513 January 2026

Data notes

Published PALM scheme worker data is rounded to the nearest 5 to ensure individual privacy is protected. As a result of rounding, the sum of totals may not add to other totals.   

For more information, contact (pacificlabourdata@dewr.gov.au).