25 September 2006

Western Australia employers urged to hire migrants

The Federal Immigration Minister is urging Western Australian employers struggling to find skilled workers to look overseas.

The resources boom has contributed to a shortage of skilled workers across the State and the skills void is restricting economic growth.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says without skilled migration, Australian jobs would be under threat as business and industry struggles to fill orders.

She says there are plenty of people living abroad with skills who would jump at an opportunity to come to Australia.

"We are what we are because of migration and we've always needed it," she said.

"And now after 10 years or more of economic growth, an unemployment rate for skilled Australians of 2 per cent or less, we're in desperate need of more skills so that Australian industry can keep on growing."

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