Record numbers of skilled Irish workers are arriving in Australia and there is no sign of any let up against a backdrop of unprecedented un­employment in Ireland.

According to figures from the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Australia granted general skilled migration visas to 814 Irish workers under the age of 45 in 2005/2006. In 2006/2007 the number of skilled Irish workers eligible for permanent residency rose to 917. From July 2007 to April 2008, the number of gen­eral skilled migration visas stood at 789.

In the same period nearly 12,700 Irish nationals obtain­ed working holiday visas compared with 13,500 for the whole of 2007. The total number of long-stay business visas granted to Irish nationals to the end of August 2008 was 2,870 compared with 2,000 in the previous year.

Irish workers represent 3% of the total number of Australia's population of foreign workers on business visas. One-fifth are expected to become permanent residents.

"Australia conducted an 'Australia Needs Skills' expo in Dublin in 2006 to encourage Republic of Ireland citizens to take up opportunities to meet Australian employers' needs for skilled workers," a Department of Immigr­ation and Citizenship spokesman told the Sunday Tribune.

"Further opportunities for skilled workers from the Republic of Ireland to mig­rate to Australia have been created by Australia's decision to expand its annual skilled migration programme to 133,500 places.

"There are increasing numbers of Irish workers qualifying for permanent residency through that programme."

Immigration department figures also confirmed there are around 258 Irish students in Australia while over 50,000 Irish citizens visited the country as tourists last year.

The numbers are expected to soar as Ireland comes to terms with unemployment levels of over 6%. According to the Australian Visa Bureau's Central Statistics Office the total number of Irish emigrants has risen to 19,800 for the year ending April 2007.

Those struggling to find employment in Ireland – construction workers, trades­men, hairdressers – are being welcomed as 'in demand' workers to fill Australia's chron­ic skills shortage. The average salary in Australia is around €29,000 and the cost of living compares favourably with Europe.

There are around 80,000 holders of Irish passports who are permanent residents in Australia – an increase of over 6,000 since 2006/07.