According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), one viable destination that is not yet fully explored by Filipino professionals and other skilled workers is Australia.

That is why in 2012, the POEA is hoping that more job opportunities would be available for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Australia.

The POEA chief, Carlos Cao, Jr. said that OFWs should take advantage of the shortage of workers in Australia as it might open attractive job opportunities for Filipino nurses, construction and mining workers.

Apparently Filipino nurses and construction-related workers are very much in demand in Australia. Data from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) shows that Australia would need 40,000 nurses until 2015.

Labor Attache of POLO, Jalilo Dela Torre also said that Australia’s construction industry is booming with expected 750,000 construction projects for the next 20 years.

Dela Torre said that there are 200 big constructions projects lined up but Australia would have a problem with the workers.

POEA chief, Cao said, “This is now the opportune time to provide viable solutions to the growing number of jobless and under-employed Filipino nurses now already numbering close to 300,000 including the 68,000 who just recently passed the latest nursing board examinations.”

“With its mining and construction boom that run short of skilled workers and its healthcare system now with an acute need for registered nurses and other allied professionals, there are tremendous opportunities to widen the gateway for jobs for Filipinos in Australia across all industries and across all states and territories,” he added.