Business Visas Australia

New figures show that there has been a 25% increase in residence visas issued by the Australian government to Irish people.

The fact that Australia has come out of the global economic downturn relatively unscathed means that there are considerable job and immigration opportunities.

Commentators in Australia say there are plenty of reasons to celebrate the first decade of the 21st century with the country moving into its 19th year of uninterrupted growth.

An analysis of statistics show that from a financial point of view it is undoubted that Australians are better off than a decade ago, with average earnings rising 58% and jobs created for more than two million.

This has made the country very attractive to business owners who want to move down under, especially those from nations that have suffered more in the recession.

The statistics show that the Irish are emigrating overseas in increasing numbers to escape the recession, but are for the most part shunning the tradition migration paths to Britain and the US.

Migration experts say there has been a large increase in temporary options with many Irish people taking a year out of the recession and spending it working in Australia, and The Economic and Social Research Institute predicts net outward migration from Ireland to be 40,000 people in the year ending April 2010, up from 7,800.

Australia has seen a relatively small downturn in the global recession, as its exports are still in great demand by large economies like China and due also in part to a timely economic stimulus.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that Australia had an unemployment rate of 5.7% in November, about half the unemployment rate in Europe and the US. And the past decade has seen the Australian economy burst through the trillion-dollar mark, with average earnings for individuals rising from $40,000 to more than $62,000.

Australia did feel some effects of the global financial crisis with the shrinking of retirement nest eggs, although the share market did bounce back last year to enable more than half of losses being recouped.

Accumulated wealth in shares and bank deposits also rebounded and an average Australians nest egg now sits at nearly $46,000. Household debt also reached record highs but it was more than offset by wealth held in houses and other assets.

Australian economic growth will mean more skills shortages and increased demand for overseas workers. Figures from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship show that New South Wales and Victoria were the most popular destinations for incomers in 2009.