"We can foresee a situation, where in the next few years, there could be thousands of foreign workers in the construction industry in Australia, " Sasse said.

"Our company employs 3,000 people but about 7%-10% of Australia's total workforce is employed in the construction industry. It's a major sector and because of the cultural similarities we have already employed a few Irish and English workers in recent months.

"The global market is dictating pay scales and at the moment many Australian construction companies are looking at Asia and South Africa first before looking at Irish or other European workers. The reason for that is that Asian workers cost a lot less to employ. In an ideal world, if we could get Irish workers for the same rate, I am sure the industry would be interested in targeting them first but that is not the case. Having said that, the number of Irish employees working for the John Holland Group numbers in the tens and we expect that figure to increase in the future."

Despite the intense demand for construction workers in Ireland and the import of tens of thousands of eastern European workers in recent years, Sasse believes the high wages being paid in Ireland might not be enough to stop some of the work-force from leaving to start a new life 'down under'. The average salary for construction workers in Australia is $AUD78,635 per annum ( 47,300).

Management salaries can be as much as $AUD155,789 ( 93,800) and the cost of living is almost three times lower than in most European countries.

"We know there is a shortage of construction workers in Ireland as well but we can also offer competitive rates of pay, " Sasse said.

"A construction manager for the John Holland Group working in a remote part of Australia can earn $AUD120,000 ( 72,200) a year. At the end of the day, it's up to an Irish worker to make the lifestyle choice and decide whether money is the most important reason for staying at home. We can offer them a good salary and the opportunity to live in Australia and enjoy what we have to offer. Most people will choose to stay at home but for those who want to start a new life in Australia the opportunity is there."

At this stage, Sasse admits he would be surprised if vast numbers of the so called 'new Irish' eastern European workforce, which now accounts for more than 20% of national gross domestic product, will give up their lucrative jobs in Ireland to work in Australia.

"Those eastern European workers would be suitably qualified to work in Australia but I would be surprise if large numbers of them started to apply for work here, " he said.

"It's primarily a geographical issue. It makes sense for Polish workers, for example, to leave home to work in Ireland for good wages and send money back to their families. They can also travel easily across Europe to visit their families at weekends and holidays. The European Union is essentially one market so it wouldn't make sense for those workers to leave home and go to Australia, where they would be across the other side of the world from their families.

"The situation could change in the future, and whilst we and other Australian construction companies would welcome eastern European workers from Ireland, the reality tells us it's unlikely to happen. At this stage, nobody from Poland or any other eastern European countries has applied for a job with our company and we have not received any applications from eastern European nationals who are currently working in Ireland."

Under the temporary workers system, Australian companies are unrestricted as to the number of foreign workers they can recruit, provided they prove the lack of suitability of local employees. And while the sheer number of applications received from would-be employees all over the world has so far also precluded the need for major recruitment in foreign countries, Sasse admits that situation could change.

"Under the government's 457 temporary workers programme we can recruit overseas workers if we can't find enough suitable people in Australia, " he said.

"In fact, that is the case for many jobs in Australia. In New South Wales if you are admitted to hospital and need a drip, the chances are it will be administered by an Irish nurse.

"We have never needed to launch a major recruitment drive in Ireland or any other country because we have never been short of foreign applications for work. There are also well-established agencies in some countries that recruit people for us. It is possible that we could have a recruitment campaign in Ireland in the future but we don't need one now."

John Holland managing director David Stewart said the "biggest block going forward for the company was lack of people".

"We can buy equipment, we can buy construction materials from all over the world, but we haven't got enough quality people, " he said.

In Melbourne, labour shortages meant the company struggled to find the 500 staff needed to build the EastLink freeway.

Sasse said staff numbers had "tracked" about 10% down until recently. He also believes that demographic changes, an ageing population and fewer engineering undergraduates than in the past were contributing to the skills problem. The John Holland Group chose to go public with its concerns to coincide with the company's annual financial report.

"I am sure the demographics in Ireland are similar to those in Australia, " Sasse said. "Many young people are choosing to become doctors and lawyers instead of working in the construction industry. The market drives demand so if we can't increase our workforce wages will increase and the demand will be less. We are facing a significant risk of not being able to deliver what we need to do because we don't have sufficiently skilled people."

Boilermakers and welders are also in short supply in Australia as well as plasterers, tilers and painters. Sasse also revealed that some of Australia's biggest mining companies are planning to launch recruiting drives for mining engineers in Ireland next year.

"There has been a desperate shortage of mining engineers in Australia for some time, " he said. "The industry could provide foreign workers with big opportunities if they want to take them."