Australia has had a long history of using migrants to fill skill gaps and labour shortages, and continues to target skilled foreign workers for permanent and temporary migration. The purpose of this report is to investigate the role of qualifications in the labour mobility of these foreign workers, especially as those who do not have employer sponsorship are not guaranteed a job in their area of expertise on arrival. Misko argues that a good match between overseas qualifications and jobs obtained in Australia on arrival signals a clear role for qualifications in facilitating migration as a source of skilled workers for the Australian labour market. This report reveals that non-school qualifications play an important role in helping migrant workers into the Australian labour market, especially primary applicants for skilled migration. Qualifications do not act alone in securing employment and employment that is suitable (including for regulated occupations). Employers say they prefer to source skilled labour from suitably qualified Australians or foreign workers already in Australia rather than to conduct overseas recruitment campaigns. While qualifications are clearly important, they need to be credible. Employers are wary of unfamiliar qualifications and providers. Perhaps this is one area where the government can assist by providing employers with more confidence in the overseas qualifications of migrants. Appended are: (1) Settler arrivals, by country of birth and eligibility category, 30 June 2009, 2010; (2) Temporary residents by country of birth, 30 June 2009, 2010; (3) Labour force status by country of birth (regions) March 2011; and (4) Summary of requirements, including qualifications that employers look for when recruiting workers. (Contains 10 tables and 21 footnotes.)