Key Backpacker Statistics for Australia’s Working Holiday Program

Backpacker Statistics

  • The working holiday program has existed since 1975
  • The working holiday visa (417) costs AU$635.00
  • A total of 135,000 Working Holiday Maker visa holders arrived in Australia in 2022
  • A total of 224,431 Working Holiday Maker visas were granted in 2022-23
  • From 1 July 2023, there will be 100 Work and Holiday visas allocated to Papua New Guinea
  • On 1 July 2022, the Work and Holiday visa arrangements with both Brazil and Mongolia commenced with 500 and 100 annual visa places available respectively
  • Australia has agreed to extend access to the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa to up to 1,000 Indian citizens each year (expected by Dec 2024)
  • Top five countries for first Working Holiday visa grants in 2022-23 were: 1) United Kingdom (30,766), 2) France (21,607), 3) Ireland (17,060), 4) Japan (12,407), and 5) South Korea (11,979)
  • Top five countries for first Work and Holiday visa grants were: 1) Indonesia (5,385), 2) United States of America (4,367), 3) China (4,091), 4) Argentina (3,737), and 5) Chile (3,176)
  • Average working holiday maker trip spend is $10,400 per year (2019 study)
  • 43% working holiday makers visit 3-7 locations (2019 study)
  • 19% of working holiday makers visit more than 8 locations (2019 study)
  • $3.2billion spend by working holiday makers for the calendar year 2019
  • $726 million spent in regional areas by backpackers
  • $1.5billion contributed labour income to the Australian economy by working holiday makers
  • 1 Australian job is created for every 10 working holiday maker visas granted
  • 1 in 3 jobs held by working holiday makers are in Australian regions

Job Opportunities for Backpackers

Vacancies for occupations that tend to employ working holiday makers

Vacancies for occupations that tend to employ working holiday makers

New working holiday countries

As of 30 June 2023, Australia is in bilateral talks with the following countries about implementing a working holiday program:

  • Andorra
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Fiji
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Mexico
  • Monaco
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Philippines
  • 14 Solomon Islands

Sources

Source documents and websites: Home Affairs report, ABC News, Tourism Australia 2019 and 2021 snapshot, Charles Sturt University

Author: Matthew Heyes

Matthew Heyes is the founder of Backpacker Job Board. Currently based in Melbourne, Matthew originates from UK and came to Australia as a backpacker on a working holiday visa. It was during his time backpacking on the east coast of Australia that he built Backpacker Job Board. Find Matthew Heyes on Linkedin