A key business group is calling for a temporary lift on caps for work and holiday visas ahead of the jobs and skills summit next week.
The Business Council of Australia is also urging the government to boost the permanent migration cap to 220,000 temporarily to make up for the shortfall in migration during the pandemic.
The council recommended lowering the cap back to 190,000 places after two years.
"We want to see a catch-up boost to the permanent migration program, with at least two-thirds of places for skilled workers," BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.
Ms Westacott said it was important to build confidence in Australia's migration system by providing better information for visa holders, setting a high bar for the treatment of migrant workers and toughening penalties for exploitation.
"The summit is a chance to reset our long-term migration program and manage the short-term challenge of labour force shortages across the whole economy," she said.
"We need to move from a short-term, ad hoc system to long-term planned migration with a focus on four-year visas, pathways to permanent migration."
The council outlined its preferred changes to the migration program alongside a suite of recommendations designed to boost the capabilities of domestic workers.
This included the development of a digital skills sharing record that tracks worker training and credentials gained throughout their career, as well as a boost to funding for vocational training.
The council also wants the schooling system improved so that school leavers are prepared for further study or work.
"We need to make sure students leave school with strong foundation skills, a clear path and a comprehensive snapshot of their abilities and capabilities, not just a mark to define their future," Ms Westacott said.
The council also called for fast-tracked visa processing, which would include relaxing eligibility checks for low-risk applicants.
A lack of staff to process visas has led to backlogs, according to the federal government, with more than 100,000 visas for overseas workers yet to be processed.
Migration policy has also emerged as a key issue ahead of the summit.
Most agree that any lift in migration numbers should happen alongside an investment in local skills and training.
The summit will be held in Canberra next Thursday and Friday.
