Irish green fingers in demand Down Under
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Tuesday June 17 2008
Calling all landscapers and tree surgeons: you're needed Down Under.
Irish gardening experts are among the latest list of workers being sought by the Australian Government to ease its labour shortage.
It seems the Aussies are suffering from a shortfall of green-fingered workers and they are hoping the green army can fill the gaps.
Twelve new occupations have been added to Australia's Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) and top of the roll-call are landscapers.
And as the economic downturn in Ireland begins to hit professionals, an exodus of IT workers might also be on the cards.
A range of IT professional positions have been advertised in Australia in the recent weeks and with companies struggling to fill the vacancies, the Australian Government has now decided to give extra status to immigrant computer professionals also.
Other occupations added to the MODL include electronic engineers, optometrists and dental technicians.
Residency
Migrants who can prove they possess those skills and qualifications required in those jobs can apply to have their skills recognised with a view to gaining permanent residency in Australia.
The list is updated twice a year, and the latest additions reflect the severe skills shortages and lack of workers in certain industry sectors.
Just one job type in specialised IT services has been removed from the list since it was last reviewed.
Australia is in the grip of an economic boom, similar to the one experienced by Ireland in the Celtic Tiger era.
There are now 105 qualified jobs listed in short supply, including childcare co-ordinators, architects, accountants, dentists, carpenters, motor mechanics and surveyors.
Prospective migrants who have occupations on this list get extra points towards their visa.
The Federal Government last week announced it would lift its skilled migration intake by 30pc to 133,500 places in the next financial year to ease the national skills shortage.
- Kevin Doyle
