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Thursday, November 21, 2013

Australia Is Experiencing a New Wave if Irish Immigrants

Among the many nationalities who are heading their way to Australia to work, live, or study in the country, there has recently been an increase in Irish migrants who stay permanently.

It is not a mystery that Australia is one of the leading destinations for immigration for a lot of nationalities from all over the world. With a vast land area, unlimited natural resources, a laid back lifestyle, and a welcoming attitude on people from all walks of life, Australia has been attracting droves of immigrants for over a hundred years. A country based on immigration, the Irish has always been one of the biggest number of migrants living in Australia.

The first wave of Irish migration occurred during the great famine in Ireland in the mid-1800's. They were the second largest immigrant group in Australia after the English, and had employment mainly in skilled occupations such as factory workers, laborers, farm hands, fishermen, and others. Many eventually owned land and became professionals, building families and communities in the country. During the late 19th century, about 1/3 of Australia's population were Irish, helping shape the Australian political and cultural lifestyle.

When the economy in Ireland improved in the 1960's, the number of Irishmen coming to Australia decreased. However, with the global economic crisis in 2008, thousands and thousands of people in Ireland lost their jobs, forcing them to look for employment in other countries. With a big community of Irish migrants already in Australia, and news of great employment opportunities, many Irish citizens were encouraged to leave their country in search of a better life in the Land Down Under. The skill shortages and the need to go somewhere with an already established network of support, Australia has again, become an attractive place to go for the many Irish men and women seeking for a better life.

According to data, in 2012 alone, about 87,000 people in Ireland left the country to move somewhere else. In the same year, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship granted 26,000 skilled workers visa, or the 457 Temporary Working Visa to those coming from Ireland. Another Australian visa subclass that are encouraging more foreign skilled workers to the country is the Holiday Working Visa, which is eligible for individuals aged 18-30. More and more young Irish professionals are looking to establish their careers in the country, with the hopes of getting permanent residency through their employers' sponsorship.

Around 50,000 backpackers and holiday makers from Ireland visit Australia each year, with 5,000 of them eventually staying in the country permanently. The Australian government's new scheme on migration encourages qualified foreign workers to come to the country, and this is attractive for young professionals in Ireland when compared to the scarce availability of jobs in their homeland. Many of those who come to Australia, never return to Ireland. As Ireland struggles to recover from their economy's financial crisis, the increasing trend of Irish immigrants in Australia is going to continue.

The most popular region for such immigrants is Western Australia. Though many of them live in big cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, many are heading their way to Western Australia due to the employment opportunities, lower cost of living, and decent salaries.

If you need some help with your visa application processing, Move Migration’s licensed migration agents can help you break down the immigration process into simple stages. Visit Move Migration office at 8/281 Pacific Hwy, North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia or call +61 468 402 825 for more information about their services.

About the Author:
Michael Ma was a migration agent assistant for Move Migration, an immigration boutique specialist with migration agents in Sydney, Australia. Their migration agents break down the immigration process into simple stages so that the clients understand the process as they guide them along.

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