The importance of migration to Northern Tasmania and the state was highlighted at the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Launceston Chamber of Commerce budget lunch on Friday.

Launceston Chamber executive officer Neil Grose and president Tim Holder both mentioned the issue during their speeches about how important it was Launceston attract more people to live and, more importantly, work, in the region.

Mr Grose said the budget was good in terms of its investment in infrastructure because it would help to underpin the strategies around population.

"We need to position Tasmania as a good place to come and live, so the infrastructure for stormwater in Launceston is a unique opportunity," he said.

What will be needed in the future will be more skilled workers to fill the construction pipeline for the vast swathe of infrastructure projects funded in the budget.

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Mr Grose said what was needed was "skills migration", or a way to attract skilled young people to the region.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the government "had a choice to make" with this budget - to move forward or back a gear in terms of its investment.

He said their choice, to move forward with investment in infrastructure was made to keep the economic momentum moving forward.

"This budget differs because we lost more than half a billion dollars in revenue and the national economy is showing signs of softening," he said.

"So we had a choice to make, to turn up a gear and underpin our economy or push back a gear."

He said that decision was made "unashamedly" and rejected claims made by public service unions the changes would lead to job cuts.

"From a whole of government perspective we needed to look at the options to ensure the public service is as effective as possible," he said.

"Obviously they [the unions] haven't been listening to what I have been saying; this is a modest efficiency dividend."

Mr Gutwein said the savings would be made through "attrition and vacancy control" and would not result in job losses.

Deloitte Access Economics presenter Paul Liggins said Tasmania's economy relied on the interstate and international migration, as well as the exchange rate.

He said Tasmania was facing "three long-term headwinds" in poor educational attainment and an unhealthy and ageing population.

However, he said "no one government" could fix this issue and commended the Hodgman Government on its proactive steps in all of these areas.

The Launceston budget lunch was held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor and had about 200 guests. It was part of a TCCI roadshow that was also held in Burnie and Hobart.

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