Canberra, AUSTRALIA – Texans know a lot about immigration. But on May 19-20, dozens of Australian companies will gather in Houston to encourage Texas workers to emigrate down under for jobs that are available now in Oz.

The Skills Australia Needs job fair in Houston on May 19-20 seeks to sign-up skilled American oil and gas, mining and construction workers who will get the chance to secure a job down under. Australian immigration officials are hosting the event and will provide information about visa options for skilled workers in the oil and gas, mining and construction sectors.

Available spaces for the two-day event are filling up quickly, and interested participants have been urged to act quickly to register for the free jobs fair.

“Australia is hungry for skilled Texas workers right now,” said immigration department spokesman Sandi Logan. “The Houston event will focus on Australian companies which are seeking American engineers and other skilled workers in the oil and gas, mining and construction sectors whose skills are in high demand down under.”

Australian employers will be on hand to speak about their industries with US workers, while Australian state government representatives will attend the event to answer questions about state-sponsored visas.

“Skills Australia Needs fairs have met with success across the globe, giving Australian employers the opportunity to link with the skilled workers they need to meet their demands, and helping workers navigate the immigration process,” Mr. Logan added.

Queensland Government Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas Chris Rodwell said his state would welcome qualified US workers to Australia.

“With major growth in the resources and energy sectors in Queensland, many opportunities are now available for suitably skilled US workers,” Mr Rodwell said. “Queensland would warmly welcome American workers to fill these gaps and can offer a wonderful climate and lifestyle for them and their families.”

The Australian division of the multinational company URS also will join Australian employers attending the event.

Russell Chapman, Recruitment Manager (Australia and New Zealand), said his company was uniquely positioned to implement a number of large resource-based projects in Australia and would be seeking skilled Americans to fill these job vacancies.

“At the job fair in Houston we will be looking to fill more than 100 positions for engineers, engineering draftspersons and technicians, quantity surveyors and spatial scientists,” Mr Chapman said. “We are specifically looking for specialist skill sets in mining, oil and gas to assist us to deliver major projects in these sectors.

“These skill sets are in short supply and high demand across Australia,” he added.

Registration details on the Skills Australia Needs event in Houston are available on the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship website www.immi.gov.au/skillevents/