WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SKILL SHORTAGES?

National Skills Forum - September 16 2005                          

The Department of Education, Science and Training recently convened The National Skills Forum to provide an opportunity to exchange information on impediments and success factors for attracting and retaining workers, particularly in trade occupations experiencing skills shortages. 

The forum highlighted current issues including the ageing workforce, skilled migration and the duration of apprenticeships.  Click here to view the presentations.

If you require more information on The National Skills Forum please email National Skills Shortages Strategy.

Skills shortages occur for a variety of reasons:

• strong economy with low rates of unemployment;
• growth of new industries with few ready-skilled tradespeople available;
• relocation of new industries into different regions with a different skills base;
• lack of interest in particular industries among potential job seekers;
• location of industry, or project-based work, in rural or regional areas with a small skills base;
• technology changes within an industry, especially production, resulting in new methods and therefore skills needs; and
• changes in underpinning skills needs to successfully undertake trade training for example, Year 12 maths for technology trades.

Skills in Demand Lists State and Territories - 2005   identify shortages and  demand in trade, professional and information technology and communications occupations. 

Since 1999, the Australian Government has approached skills shortages on an industry by industry basis through the National Skills Shortages Strategy  (NSSS). 

Over the last five years the Australian Government, together with industry, has spent over $11 million assisting the Electrotechnology, Engineering, Retail Motor, Food Trades, Rural, Building and Construction, Emerging Technologies, Retail, Road Freight Transport, Aerospace and Marine Manufacturing industries to analyse skills needs and identify and implement actions to attract new entrants into each industry.  See links below for information on these industry projects.

Improving the image of industry and their recruitment practises, engaging employers in training, and developing careers education materials are some of the strategies developed under NSSS to address difficulties in attracting and retaining people to industries experiencing skills shortages. 

Some of the industries that have participated in the NISI and NSSS programmes include:

Nature and Causes of Skills Shortages  RTF file (10Mb)