Ken Belshaw, group managing director of Grafton Recruitment, notes that the stability of Northern Ireland's economy is attracting many foreign workers.

"Currently the economy is thriving and this is likely to continue for the medium term, so there are plenty of job opportunities in Ulster. Grafton Recruitment has 14 offices in Northern Ireland and is currently the 14th largest employer in Northern Ireland, we recruit in all major industry sectors so we see all aspects of the economy. There has been a number of recent developments that have boosted the economy here in Northern Ireland.

"The government is the largest employer in Northern Ireland, and, unlike the Republic it outsources much of its recruitment and is open to employing people in contract and flexitime positions. Teaching, nursing and civil service jobs in Northern Ireland are relatively well paid, given the cost of living. For example, you can buy a nice house in Northern Ireland that is close to any city centre for under £100,000.

"Within the semi-state and state institutions there are a number of opportunities across a range of disciplines. A number of large companies such as Halifax, Prudential and Abbey National have opened call centres recently, providing a boost to the financial sector. There are also plenty of opportunities in the software industry particularly for software programmers.

"Many of our graduates now choose to stay here rather than go south and we have noticed that more people are choosing to come and work in Northern Ireland. The economy is stable and doesn't suffer from the boom-and-bust syndrome many other economies suffer from so it is an attractive location for those seeking stable employment, coupled with a high standard of living."