Australia immigration needed to fuel economic boom

Australia's economy is booming, leading employment in the country to rise for the 16th consecutive month, which could be welcome news for those considering applying for an Australian visa.

February saw 15,000 new jobs created, following on from 26,800 in January, according to a poll of economists conducted by Bloomberg News.

"Employers are still keen to hire," said Craig James, chief equities economist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

"The unemployment rate is likely to hold close to the 33-year low of 4.1 percent set in January.'

The growth of the Australian economy is being driven in large part by domestic construction and demand for natural resources from the Chinese market. Many businesses have warned in recent months that skilled labour is becoming increasingly difficult to find, which is also causing wages to rise.

Earlier this month, prime minister Kevin Rudd announced plans to introduce a special visa scheme to facilitate the immigration of skilled construction workers. If approved, the scheme could be in place within three months.

Australia needs skilled workers: Anyone applying for an Australian visa should begin by completing the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa application to see if they meet the Australian visa requirements.