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December 30, 2010 -  SYDNEY – Growing numbers of US citizens are now heading to Australia to search for jobs Down Under. It has been reported that around 10% of US immigrants move to Australia, applied for visas Australian and try their luck there.

According Australian government statistics, nearly 7000 Americans are currently working on long-term work visa for Australia which is an 80% jump over the past five years. After British and Indian nationals, it is said that US citizens are now the third largest group trying out their luck for so-called 457 work visas. American skilled workers can obtain non renewable permit for as much as a three-year-stay. After that, they can apply visa to Australia gain for the renewable 457 which grants up to a four-year stay. Some even apply for Australian visa tourist first just to try out living in Australia even in a short period of time.

The labor laws of Australia have not been made easy for Americans to jump on plane and start working right away. Mr. Davila said that he had to pay for about $40,000 for trade schools to get the skilled worker’s degree required to practice his trade in the country.

Australia majorly needs immigrants to augment its relatively small population of 22 million as economic growth creates skills gaps that could constrain its mining and investment boom. It is said that the country needs to spend about $600 billion in infrastructure over the next six years that creates more demand for skilled jobs.

The expensive cost of initially working in Australia has discouraged some Americans. For those Americans who cannot get work immediately, studying in Australia in the hope of landing a well-paid job is increasingly attractive. It is reported that about 10% of US citizens have attended universities in the past two years. It pushed the Australian dollar up 45% against the US dollar over the same period which makes it more expensive for Americans to even study in the country.