Australia's Skilled Independent (subclass 189) expression of interest pool continued to grow in August 2026, with 180,651 submitted EOIs recorded for the month, according to the latest SkillSelect figures. That represents a net increase of 5,401 over the prior month.
Viewed over a longer horizon, the rise is more striking. In the twelve months to August 2026, the SkillSelect 189 EOI pool swelled by 40,992 submissions — a 29.4 per cent year-on-year jump. The trend underscores the volume of skilled workers now holding active SkillSelect EOIs in the independent visa stream, which does not require state or territory nomination.
Points distribution in the pool
The median points score among submitted 189 EOIs stood at 75 in August 2026, matching the mode. Some 35.4 per cent of the pool held 80 points or more on the points test. These figures describe only the scores of EOIs that are currently submitted and do not reflect invitation cut-offs or future round outcomes.
Which occupations shifted most
Registered Nurses nec (ANZSCO 254499) led all occupations with a net gain of 719 submitted EOIs in the month, bringing its 189 pool total to 7,188. Carpenter (331212) added 490, reaching 1,182, and Secondary School Teacher (241411) gained 412 to reach 2,647.
- Chef (351311) shed 154 submitted EOIs, though it remains one of the largest pools at 10,982.
- Civil Engineer (233211) fell by 101 to 8,858.
- Civil Engineering Draftsperson (312211) dropped 83 to 5,583.
The occupation-level movements can be explored on the EOI Insights dashboard, which tracks flows across 85 occupations over 26 months. Readers comparing the 189 stream with state-nominated options can also consult the 189 vs 190 vs 491 guide.
The broader picture
The subclass 189 pool is one of several tracked by the Department of Home Affairs through SkillSelect invitation rounds. Separate state and territory nomination allocations — covering the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas — are published by the Department on its state and territory nomination allocations page. The 2025–26 allocation totalled 20,350 places across all jurisdictions.
The August 2026 data point captures the pool at a single moment. Whether the growth rate moderates or accelerates in coming months will depend on invitation volumes, policy settings and applicant decisions. Historical pool movements and invitation round data are available through the EOI Insights platform.
Try these numbers yourself
The charts on this page are a snapshot. Open the dashboard to try the live version — change the month, the visa, or the occupation and watch the numbers update.
Charts on this page are example snapshots, not live counts.
