TAXPAYERS will pay almost $10,000 for every unskilled Pacific islander brought to Australia under a new guest worker scheme.

The HeraldSun reports figures buried in the Federal Government's latest economic update show the trial scheme to import 2500 rural workers will cost $23.6 million over four years.

The same document revealed the number of jobless Australians is tipped to rise by about 110,000 by June 2010 as unemployment reaches 5.75 per cent.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans recently said the overall migrant intake would be revised in light of the global financial crisis.

But the Government says that it remains committed to the Pacific Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme.

The scheme was developed at the urging of farmers, especially fruit growers in the Goulburn Valley and Sunraysia regions, the HeraldSun reports.

It also promises to deliver much-needed financial help to struggling nations such as Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

A spokeswoman for Employment Minister Julia Gillard said: "The pilot is demand-driven. If there is no demand from horticultural employers for labour, then no Pacific Island workers will be recruited."

But Opposition immigration spokeswoman Dr Sharman Stone said she was staggered at the cost.

Read more on the HeraldSun online.