International jobs market in Australia attracts migrants
The strong international jobs market in Australia is attracting high numbers of immigrants who have suffered from the recession, according to a new report.
Figures released this week show that there has been an increase of 25 per cent in the number of working visas issued to Irish expats by the Australian government. In total 2,501 visas were issued in 2009, compared with 1,989 in 2008.
The figures also show that increasing numbers of Irish nationals are migrating to Canada with 400 extra visas being issued this year.
Ireland is one of the European countries which has been hit hardest by the global economic crisis. International property prices in the country plummeted and the unemployment rate stands at 12.5 per cent, according to the Central Statistics Office.
In comparison the most recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show unemployment is at 5.7 per cent in the country, and has been decreasing in recent months.
Australia has an extremely competitive immigration system and operates a number of lists to determine the skills migrants need. These include the Critical Skills List (CSL), Migration Occupations in Demand list and the Longer Skills Occupation List.
The Irish Times reports that many building trades were taken off the CSL this year, which could effect international recruitment in the sector.
Written by Andy Price.