Western Australia 190 & 491 Invitation Trends 23rd February 2026: Occupations, Points, English & Stream Analysis

Western Australia continues to be one of the most strategic states for skilled migration applicants targeting Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) and Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visas.

Recent invitation patterns in 2026 show clear trends across:

• Occupation clusters
• Active migration streams
• Points competitiveness
• English levels
• Likely selection signals

This analysis simplifies those patterns so applicants can understand how West Australia 190 and 491 invitations are evolving – without overcomplicating the data.

Disclaimer: The insights shared below are based on invitation records reviewed by Aussizz Group for a recent 2026 Western Australia round. This is a trend-based strategic analysis for planning purposes only and is not an official Government statement or guarantee of future outcomes.

Aussizz Group has helped 200,000+ applicants move closer to their Australian dreams, and this breakdown is designed to help applicants make smarter migration decisions.

Western Australia 190 vs 491: What the Feb 2026 Invitation Patterns Show

When occupations are grouped logically instead of viewed individually, four major clusters emerge:

• Healthcare & Nursing
• Engineering & Built Environment
• Hospitality & Skilled Trades
• Education & Professional Services

Another clear observation:

Subclass 491 appears more widely distributed across occupations than Subclass 190

Both visas were active, but 491 invitations appeared across a broader range of occupation clusters. Subclass 190 invitations were visible but comparatively more selective.

This does not mean 190 is inactive. It suggests Western Australia may currently be using 491 more broadly across sectors while maintaining tighter competition under 190.

Occupation Cluster Analysis – February 2026 Round, WA 190 & 491

1. Healthcare & Nursing Occupations Remain Strong

This cluster showed consistent visibility.
Examples include:

• Registered Nurse
• Registered Nurses nec
• Nursing specialisations
• Physiotherapist
• Medical laboratory-linked occupations

Points Competitiveness

Invitations in this cluster generally fell within the 80-95 points range, depending on stream and profile strength.

English Levels Observed

Most nursing invitations were clustered around Proficient and Superior English, although Competent English was also visible in some profiles.

What This Suggests

West Australia continues to support healthcare occupations. However, competitiveness still varies by stream and total points.

2. Engineering & Built Environment Show Higher Competitive Bands

This cluster includes:

• Civil Engineer
• Civil Engineering Technician
• Civil Engineering Draftsperson
• Architectural Draftsperson

Points Competitiveness

This cluster generally showed a higher competitive band, commonly within 90-105 points.

Streams Active

• Graduate Stream Higher Education
• General Stream WASMOL (Schedule 2)

English Levels Observed

Primarily:

• Proficient
• Superior

What This Suggests

Engineering and drafting occupations appear competitive in West Australia, particularly under 491. Stronger overall profiles – including points and English – appear common in this cluster.

3. Hospitality & Skilled Trades Remain Active

This cluster includes:

Hospitality

• Chef
• Cook
• Pastrycook
• Cafe or Restaurant Manager

Skilled Trades

• Carpenter
• Bricklayer
• Wall and Floor Tiler
• Other construction-related occupations

Points Range

Most invitations in this cluster fell within the 80–100 point range, depending on occupation and stream.

Streams Active

• Graduate Stream Higher Education
• Graduate Stream VET
• General Stream WASMOL (Schedule 2)

English Levels

Mostly:

• Proficient
• Superior

What This Suggests

Hospitality and trades continue to receive invitations, but competitiveness varies. Profile strength – especially English and points – appears to influence outcomes.

4. Education & Professional Roles Maintain Presence

This cluster includes:

• Education-linked occupations (including ECT examples)
• Architecture-linked qualifications mapped to drafting occupations
• Specialist professional roles

Points Range

Generally, within 85-95 points, depending on occupation and stream.

English Levels

Mostly:

• Proficient
• Superior

What This Suggests

Professional and education roles remain relevant in West Australia migration planning, but selection appears competitive and structured.

Which Streams Were Active in West Australia?

One of the strongest insights from this round is the diversity of migration streams used.
The invitations reviewed were issued under:

Graduate Stream – Higher Education

Active across healthcare, engineering, hospitality and professional occupations.

Graduate Stream – VET

Visible in hospitality and selected technical roles.

General Stream – WASMOL Schedule 1

Common in healthcare occupations.

General Stream – WASMOL Schedule 2

Visible across engineering, drafting, hospitality and some trade occupations.

Key Strategic Insight

West Australia invitations are not limited to one stream. Stream eligibility appears to play a central role in selection.

Applicants often focus only on points, but correct stream positioning may be equally important.

English Requirements in West Australia 190 & 491 Invitations

English functions as a competitiveness factor:

• Proficient may be sufficient in certain high-demand occupations.
• Competent or Superior strengthens overall ranking.
• Strong English often aligns with higher total points.

However, English alone does not determine selection. It works alongside occupation demand and stream eligibility.

What Likely Influenced Selection in West Australia

Although no private dataset can define the exact Government selection formula, clear selection signals appear in the reviewed records:

1. Occupation Demand & WASMOL Alignment

Correct occupation listing and schedule alignment appear critical.

2. Stream Eligibility

Graduate Stream versus General Stream positioning appears highly influential.

3. Competitive Points Within Each Occupation Cluster

Points competitiveness varies by sector:

• Healthcare: approximately 80–95
• Engineering: other 90–105
• Hospitality/Trades: generally, 80–100

There is no universal West Australia cutoff score. Competitiveness depends on occupation cluster.

4. English as a Strengthening Factor

Proficient and Superior English appear repeatedly in invited profiles.

5. EOI Timing

Where points are similar, earlier EOIs may provide an advantage.

West Australia 190 vs 491: Strategic Comparison

Subclass 190

Appears more selective and concentrated in certain occupation clusters.

Subclass 491

Appears more broadly distributed across healthcare, engineering, hospitality and technical occupations.

Migration Planning Insight

Applicants should not treat 190 as the only viable outcome.

In several occupation clusters, 491 appears:

• More widely active
• Strategically accessible
• A realistic pathway toward permanent residency

The correct pathway depends on occupation, stream eligibility and competitiveness.

What This Means for 2026 Skilled Migration Applicants

The 2026 invitation patterns suggest that West Australia selection is structured and demand-driven.

Success appears to require alignment between:

• Occupation demand
• Correct migration stream
• Competitive points
• Strong English
• Proper EOI positioning

It is rarely one factor alone that drives an invitation.

FAQs

Q1. Which occupation clusters were most active in West Australia?

Healthcare (especially nursing), engineering and drafting, hospitality, skilled trades and selected professional roles showed strong presence.

Q2. Was Subclass 491 more active than Subclass 190?

In the reviewed records, 491 invitations appeared more broadly distributed across occupation groups.

Q3. What English levels were seen in invited profiles?

Only Competent, Proficient and Superior English were visible. Most invited profiles showed Proficient or Superior.

Q4. What was the general points range?

Points varied by occupation cluster, generally within the 80-105 range, depending on sector and stream.

Q5. Which streams were active?

Graduate Stream (Higher Education and VET) and General Stream (WASMOL Schedule 1 and Schedule 2) were all visible.

Q6. Does higher English guarantee selection?

No. English strengthens competitiveness but must align with occupation demand and stream eligibility.

Q7. Should applicants prioritise 190 or 491?

It depends on occupation cluster, stream eligibility and competitiveness. In this round, 491 appeared more broadly active.

Build Your West Australia Migration Strategy with Aussizz Group

Aussizz Group has helped 200,000+ applicants achieve their Australian dreams.

If you are planning for West Australia 190 or 491, a tailored strategy can help you understand:

• Your occupation competitiveness
• The right stream pathway
• Points improvement opportunities
• English optimisation
• EOI positioning strategy

Book a consultation with Aussizz Group today and build a migration pathway based on structured analysis – not guesswork.