If you are searching for an Australian employer who can legally sponsor you, the Australia labour agreement company list is the single most useful public document available. The May 2026 update from the Department of Home Affairs names 5,771 companies holding an active agreement, spread across 26 agreement types. This article breaks down those numbers by agreement type and region, explains how to use the list to find a realistic sponsor, and covers the three things the list will not tell you.
Last updated: July 2026
Download the full May 2026 company list here (Google Drive, 5,771 companies with agreement type, start date, and end date).
What the Labour Agreement Company List Actually Is
A labour agreement is a contract between an Australian employer and the Australian Government that lets that employer sponsor overseas workers when a genuine shortage exists and standard visa programs do not fit. Agreements generally run for five years, per immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
The company list is the Department of Home Affairs’ public register of every business currently holding one. Four columns: company name, agreement type, start date, end date. That is the whole document.
If you want the full mechanics of how agreements are negotiated and what concessions they can carry, read our companion guide on Australia’s labour agreement visa for overseas workers. This article focuses on the list itself.
Labour Agreement Company List May 2026: The Numbers
Most articles on this topic explain what labour agreements are and then send you off to a government page. Here is what is actually inside the May 2026 file.
The 5,771 companies fall into four broad families:
| Agreement Family | Companies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) | 3,507 | 60.8% |
| Industry labour agreements | 1,760 | 30.5% |
| Company specific agreements | 304 | 5.3% |
| Skilled Refugee Pilot and Global Talent | 200 | 3.5% |
Breakdown by Agreement Type
| Agreement Type | Companies |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory DAMA | 758 |
| Far North Queensland DAMA | 516 |
| South Australia Regional DAMA | 504 |
| Industry – Dairy | 375 |
| Industry – Minister of Religion | 368 |
| WA DAMA | 343 |
| Company Specific | 304 |
| South West DAMA | 265 |
| Industry – Horticulture | 248 |
| Orana DAMA | 245 |
| Goldfields DAMA | 190 |
| Skilled Refugee Pilot | 177 |
| Industry – Aged Care | 176 |
| Industry – Premium Dining | 167 |
| East Kimberley DAMA | 158 |
| Pilbara DAMA | 151 |
| Townsville DAMA | 134 |
| Industry – On-Hire | 130 |
| Great South Coast DAMA | 127 |
| Industry – Fishing | 127 |
| Industry – Meat | 105 |
| Goulburn Valley DAMA | 94 |
| Industry – Pork | 54 |
| GTS – Established Business | 23 |
| Adelaide City Tech and Innovation DAMA | 22 |
| Industry – Advertising | 10 |
Three regions carry roughly half the DAMA total: the Northern Territory, Far North Queensland, and regional South Australia. If you are open to regional migration in Australia, your odds improve substantially. Sydney and Melbourne barely appear in this dataset.
Ready to check whether your occupation fits any of these agreements? Book a migration strategy consultation with RACC Indonesia and we will map your profile against the right agreement type.
How to Use the List to Find a Sponsor
The list is a filter, not a job board. Used properly it stops you from wasting months applying to companies that legally cannot hire you.
Step 1: Match the Agreement Type to Your Occupation
Start from the agreement type, not the company name. Each type covers a defined set of occupations. A dairy farm on the Industry – Dairy agreement cannot sponsor a software developer, no matter how much it likes your CV. Check the occupation lists published for industry labour agreements and for each Designated Area Migration Agreement region before you shortlist anyone.
Step 2: Check the Agreement Is Still Active
Every row shows a start and an end date. Sort by end date. An agreement expiring in the next twelve months is a real risk, because nomination and visa processing can outlast the agreement itself. We have seen candidates get a verbal offer from an employer whose agreement had eight months left, then lose the pathway entirely when it lapsed before lodgement.
Step 3: Approach the Company the Right Way
Apply to the advertised role first. Do not open with “I need sponsorship.” Employers under these agreements already know they can sponsor, and they have obligations under labour market testing rules that make an unsolicited sponsorship request awkward for them. Prove you are the right hire, then raise visa status once there is genuine interest. Our guide on how to find an employer who can sponsor you in Australia covers the approach in detail.
What the List Does NOT Tell You
This is where most applicants get burned. The company list is deliberately minimal, and three critical facts are missing from it.
- It does not list occupations. A company appearing under the WA DAMA might be approved for two occupations or twenty. The list will not say which.
- It does not indicate vacancies. Holding an agreement means a company is permitted to sponsor. It does not mean the company is hiring now, or that it has used its agreement at all.
- It does not confirm offshore sponsorship. Some employers will only nominate candidates already onshore in Australia. That preference never appears in the file.
Treat the list as a shortlist generator, then verify each of these three points directly with the employer or through a registered agent. Skipping this verification step is one of the most common mistakes in Australian skilled migration applications.
Which Visas a Labour Agreement Can Lead To
A labour agreement is not a visa. It is the authority that lets an employer nominate you for one of three visa programs.
| Visa | Type | PR Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 482 Skills in Demand | Temporary, up to 4 years | Transitions to PR after a qualifying period |
| Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | Permanent | Immediate permanent residency |
| Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | Provisional, 5 years | Pathway to PR via Subclass 191 |
Most labour agreement candidates start on the Subclass 482 and convert later. For the mechanics of that conversion, see our breakdown of the Skills in Demand visa to PR transition and how employer sponsorship leads to PR in Australia.
How RACC Indonesia Can Help You
Having the list is the easy part. Knowing which of the 5,771 companies can actually sponsor your specific occupation, in your target region, with an agreement that will still be valid when your nomination is lodged, is the part that takes experience.
Our consultants are MARA-registered migration agents and have guided Indonesian applicants through DAMA, industry, and company specific pathways. If you are unsure whether your occupation appears on any agreement, or which region gives you the best odds, book a migration strategy consultation with RACC Indonesia.
This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Immigration policy changes frequently. Seek advice from a registered migration agent (MARA) for your specific circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many companies in Australia have a labour agreement?
As of the May 2026 update published by the Department of Home Affairs, 5,771 companies hold an active labour agreement. Of these, 3,507 are under a Designated Area Migration Agreement, 1,760 under an industry agreement, 304 are company specific, and 177 sit under the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot.
Is the Australian labour agreement company list public?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs publishes the list of companies with current labour agreements on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and updates it periodically. It shows the company name, agreement type, start date, and end date. It does not show occupations or vacancies.
Which DAMA region has the most approved employers?
The Northern Territory DAMA has the most approved employers, with 758 companies as of May 2026. Far North Queensland follows with 516, and South Australia Regional with 504. Together these three regions account for roughly half of all DAMA employers in Australia.
Can I apply for a job at a company on the labour agreement list?
You can apply, but being on the list does not mean the company is hiring or that your occupation is covered by its agreement. Each agreement specifies which occupations the employer may sponsor. Check the company’s careers page and confirm the occupation before investing time in an application.
Does a labour agreement lead to permanent residency in Australia?
It can. Labour agreements allow visas under the Subclass 482, Subclass 186, and Subclass 494 programs. The Subclass 186 grants permanent residency directly. The Subclass 482 and Subclass 494 are temporary but can transition to permanent residency after a qualifying period.
How long does an Australian labour agreement last?
Labour agreements generally run for five years from the start date, according to the Department of Home Affairs. The company list shows both the start and end date for each agreement. An employer whose agreement expires within twelve months may not be able to complete your nomination in time.
