A jobs fair in Perth has attracted a fair number of Australians, and a lot of New Zealanders who want to come home.

The event is aimed at recruiting people with skills in engineering, construction and the trades.

Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief Michael Barnett is in Perth.

"There's a large number of New Zealanders that have been employed over here in construction. A lot of them are unemployed, a lot of them know there's the potential to be unemployed and they're looking at the almost guarantee of work that Auckland can offer over the next five to ten years."

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce is in Perth today for the first of the four job fairs.

The event is targeting emerging skills shortages, particularly in construction, engineering, and computer software and design.

Mr Joyce says more than 50,000 skilled jobs will need to be filled over the next couple of years.

He says New Zealand has donated a lot of people to work in Australia over the past 20 years and with the economy doing better, it’s time to encourage people to move to this side of the Tasman.