Where do you go when you lose your job in the middle of the world's worst recession? For thousands of Irish people, Canada is looking like the great white hope.

And what better endorsement than Taoiseach Brian Cowen's announcement this week of a new Irish commission for banking regulation based on the Canadian model.

While no country has been spared the global economic crisis, some are faring better than others -- and Canada is emerging as the least affected. So what is its secret and why are so many people, Government leaders, economists and would-be emigrants alike, all so very impressed?

"Canada never had a Celtic Tiger boom -- it's always had a steady, rich economy and a strong banking regulatory system in place which meant it didn't lose the run of itself in the same way that other countries did," says Stephen McLarnon, organiser of the Working Abroad Expo to be held in Dublin and Cork this month.

With its enviable standard of living, it is not surprising that people are flocking to its shores. Canada takes in the world's largest per capita immigration numbers at around 250,000 people a year and it looks as though an increasing proportion will be from Ireland as this is the first time Canada has featured in a major exhibition event like the Working Abroad Expo.

The successor to the popular Down Under Show which focused on Australia and New Zealand, this year's exhibition features new destinations and specialist areas of interest to would-be migrants. Recruitment agencies will be on hand to advise on job opportunities in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, China and the Middle East.

Other specialists will outline volunteering opportunities in Africa and there will be experts to advise on visa options and others to talk to Polish workers looking to return home.

If the latest figures are anything to go by, it looks set to be of intense interest to the Irish public. According to the Central Statistics Office, emigration is at its highest level for almost 20 years. In the 12 months to last April, 45,300 workers left this country, with Australia and New Zealand attracting the largest proportion of these.

Australian visa specialist Liz O'Hagan says the rate of enquiries she gets from all over the country is rising steadily by the month. "Australia can be a land of opportunity, but you need to be realistic," she says. "Programmes are getting tighter and we expect migration to be reduced, but there are definite skill shortages, so there are opportunities.

"Each state has its own Critical Skills List and you can download the information from www.immi.gov.au to see which state is looking for your occupation. Electricians are in dem-and in a lot of states, but they will need to sit and pass the Australian exams and people need to allow for this and budget for it.

"Backpackers are struggling because they head in groups to the main city centres and they're often not prepared. Like going for a job interview, you need to do your research. An employer will treat somebody with a permanent visa more seriously than somebody with a working holiday visa."

Groups of young people setting out to 'do Australia' for a year are often in for a rude awakening when they can't find work and the money starts running out. According to Stephen McLarnon, such situations are preventable if you avoid common pitfalls.

"It doesn't help to travel in packs," he says. "I've seen groups of 10 to 12 head off together and only one or two get jobs, which affects the group dynamic. A smaller group of two to four people is more advisable. They often go in September or October, which is holiday season over there, so all the Australian students are also competing for casual work."

Irate callers to the Joe Duffy show recently argued that they'd been lured to Australia under false pretences and with empty promises of jobs which never materialised. All the experts agree that there is a lot of confusion about the different kinds of visas available.

"Worker holiday visas are available for the under-30s for up to one year," explains Stephen. "These allow incidental work to support travel, so the holder can work for up to six months. If the holder does a three-month seasonal harvest, the visa can be extended for a further 12 months. Harvest work is hard and wages are small, but it can be great craic and it allows you to see the country.

"However, employers may not hire somebody with a worker holiday visa because they'll have to let them go in six months. A skilled migration visa is available to people up to 45 years of age and allows unlimited work and travel for the term of the visa which is five years. It is a route to citizenship and it can take 4-10 months to obtain. The Government visa application charge is Au$2,105 (€1,077)," Stephen said.

He added: "It pays to know what you may face before you go. For instance, construction workers need a Safe Pass to work on sites in Australia, just as they do in Ireland, so they need to budget for this. For bar work, you will need to get a Responsible Sale of Alcohol (RSA) certificate which costs approximately Au$130 (€67) but varies from state to state.

"The exhibition is all about information. Visas for Canada, New Zealand and Australia are not processed here. They all go through the relevant High Commission in London, so to have the opportunity to speak to experts directly at the exhibition and have your questions answered is invaluable."

The Working Abroad Expo takes place on March 21 and 22 (10am-5pm) in the RDS and in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Cork on March 26 and 27 1pm-8pm). Tickets are €10. Further information is available on www.workingabroad.ie

- Celine Naughton