The mining, resources and infrastructure boom fuelling the need for skilled migrant workers is also creating a surge of work for corporate migration lawyers.

Holding Redlich corporate migration partner Maria Jockel says a large number of corporates in Australia are facing difficulties in filling the vacancies they have as the unemployment rate continues to drop. “We have 4.9 percent unemployment in Australia, which is virtually full employment,” said Jockel. “There is a need for Australian organisations to look overseas for talent to meet some of their needs.” As a result of unemployment falling and more companies needing staff, particularly in the mining, infrastructure and construction industries, Jockel says she has been increasingly busy assisting companies with 457 Visa applications. “If you look at the 457 Visa program it picks up as Australia has more workforce participation. The more robust the economy the greater the need for skilled workers; and that is what is occurring now, a progressive increase in demand,” she said.

According to Jockel, Australia’s immigration law is highly complex and very paper intensive. “Australia’s immigration laws consist of 3,000 pages of law,” she told ALB. “It takes a lot of paper work for each and every worker that is bought into Australia on a visa. It is a cost intensive exercise for corporations to embark upon; they would not do it if they didn’t have to.”

Global migration specialist law firm Fragomen has also seen a growing demand for its services from corporates looking to bring in skilled and semi-skilled workers from overseas. As a result of the demand the firm last year recruited 25 graduates to become specialist corporate immigration lawyers. It is only the third year they have recruited graduates. “Because of the rules and regulation around moving or bringing staff to Australia there is demand within the immigration law sector as well,” said Robert Walsh, managing partner Fragomen Sydney.

The firm now has more than 200 staff across Australia and expects to add more as its clients reach their peak skilled migration needs in the coming 12 to 18 months. “We expect, based on what our clients are telling us, that the peak for demand in the mining and resources sectors will be between 2013 and 2018 when the large scale projects that have received final investment decisions are underway,” said Walsh. “Demand for labour will be significant during that period.”