University of Ulster has been targeting graduates returning home at airports

The Christmas to New Year period was chosen for the drive because of the thousands who return to the province for the holiday.

Professional people and newly trained graduates have been targeted even before they arrived home to Northern Ireland.

At Heathrow, Belfast City , Belfast International and Derry City airports, stalls have been displaying what is on offer for those willing to return to the province.

The exhibitions are part of the Back To Your Future campaign which has its own website.

IT professionals home for the holidays have a unique opportunity to browse a selection of superb opportunities available in the top firms and meet the companies face to face

Colin Maxwell

At the Europa, companies such as Shorts Missiles Systems, Cardbase Technologies, Seagate Technology, Kainos Software and Aepona will all be showcasing a range of jobs on offer.

Jobs being advertised are for software engineers, design analysts, team leaders, Internet security engineers and electronic engineers.

Colin Maxwell, business development manager for High Skills Pool, said: "This is an IT and electronics job-seeker's dream.

"Those IT professionals home for the holidays have a unique opportunity to browse a selection of superb opportunities available in the top firms and also meet the companies face to face."

Also represented at the exhibition are the Software Industry Federation and Training and Employment Agency who are co-ordinating the Back to Your Future campaign.

Mr Maxwell pointed out that the software industry was the fastest-growing sector of the Northern Ireland economy.

Currently employing 3,000, it is predicted to grow to 25,000 before the end of the decade, provided it is not held back by a skills shortage.

Elaine Dickson of Aepona said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for those who may be thinking of returning to Northern Ireland to see exactly what is on offer.

"I think they will be pleasantly surprised at the breadth of opportunities available and the careers that are now possible in Northern Ireland."

Northern Ireland currently has record employment, and an unemployment rate well below many UK regions.

Unemployment has dropped 10,000 in the past year to 45,000 and latest predictions are that another 10,000 jobs will be created in the year ahead.

An economic survey released earlier this month predicted that the growth in industrial output would considerably outpace that of the UK as a whole next year - as it did this year.