United States construction workers will be encouraged to work in Australia in a bid to address Australian skill shortages and US unemployment levels.

Skills Minister Chris Evans said the government would move to recognise US workers' trade skills in the US to smooth their path to Australia.

"Great opportunity" ... Skills minister Chris Evans. Credit:Penny Bradfield

"We haven't had strong recognition arrangements with the United States of America," he told reporters in Canberra this afternoon.

Senator Evans said Australia's temporary migration program had been attracting "reasonable" levels of US workers, but mainly in professional areas. According to the Department of Immigration, the US made up 7 per cent of total 457 (temporary overseas worker) visa applications from July to the end of February 2012.