Australia could be forced to bring in more migrants to fill critical gaps in the nation's workforce created by the AUKUS nuclear submarine program, the home affairs minister warns.

Tony Burke used a major address to suggest some Australians will leave their jobs to seek out better-paying roles in the defence sector as the AUKUS pact progresses in the coming years.

That could leave a number of industries short of workers, forcing them to look overseas for staff.

"There are going to be really significant, high-paying jobs that a lot of Australians will move to," Mr Burke told the National Press Club on Thursday.

He said while some of the roles left behind by AUKUS workers would be filled by Australians, migrants could be needed to fill others.

Mr Burke also hit back at suggestions that

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