The latest data shows that at the end of February 2013 there were 12,490 Irish workers in Australia on primary 457 visas in comparison to the 8,620 in 2012 which equals a rise of 45 percent within one year in the number of Irish people seeking a new life in Australia.

According to the EU statistics office, Eurostat, the number of young Irish people without jobs rose in February with 30.8 percent of the country’s under-25s unemployed during that month.

These figures show how young Irish people are still trying to escape the economic crisis at home in search of a better life elsewhere. Ireland remains in third place on the overall visa leaderboard, behind India and the UK, also coming third on the 457 visa list with a total of 7,300 people receiving visas by the end of February, 8.4 percent of the total visas given.

The visas are reserved for skilled workers who must also find sponsorship but visa data has revealed that there has been a substantial drop in the number of 457 visa holders being granted permanent residency.

A report from the Australian authorities states that: "Compared with the previous month, the number of primary visas granted in February 2013 was 12.3pc lower,” and "The number of subclass 457 visa holders granted a permanent residence/provisional visa was down 13pc, compared with the same period last programme year," the Herald reports.