A New Zealand cabinet minister is popping across to Australia for a second weekend in a row to help recruit workers.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce is travelling to Sydney on Sunday morning to attend a New Zealand job fair at Sydney Town hall this weekend. He went to Perth last weekend.

He’s supporting a drive by New Zealand companies to attract workers from Australia.

“The trans-Tasman labour market has seen many Kiwis move to Australia over the last twenty years to take advantage of a range of job opportunities,” Mr Joyce said.

“The time is right for them to consider returning. With unemployment dropping and strong economic growth, New Zealand needs skilled workers to ensure our businesses can continue to expand,” he said.

More than 35 Kiwi employers are in Sydney this weekend to recruit skilled workers in the IT, engineering, healthcare, construction and trades sectors. About 30 employers and 1750 jobseekers attended the first fair in Perth last weekend.

Mr Joyce says Australia is a good market for recruitment.

Major employers aiming to recruit workers include New Zealand’s largest engineering firm, BECA, the nation’s largest employer, Fletcher Building, and its biggest distributor of electricity and gas, Vector.

Most Australian permanent residents can live and work in New Zealand without a visa.