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Demand for skilled remains

By Lance Fee,
Director
Live Downunder UK

FOLLOWING on from the dramatic oversupply of Information Technology (IT) graduates in 2001, the Australian Computing Society is now predicting big skills shortages in the second half of 2008/2009.
This is due to a decreasing amount of IT graduates from Australian Universities and a big increase in the number of sectors in the community utilising IT skills.
The rapid development of IT skills in the communications sector has led to the new name of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) being adopted.
An example of some of the major projects planned in the next few years include the computerisation of the Rio Tinto North West Australia mining operations. A company spokesman announced at a shareholders meeting this month that, due to ongoing problems of skill shortages at the mine-site, they would be aiming to carry out the process remotely.
They would be establishing a big operations centre on the outskirts of Perth and most operations would be controlled from there. The Australian Computer Society has also predicted strong growth in the agriculture, media and manufacturing sectors.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants has also announced that a recent survey of employers meant that there would be a 10 to 20 per cent shortage of qualified accountants around Australia in the next few years.
Not only was there generally more demand for accountancy skills within Australia, Australian Accountants were now taking overseas positions the Institute said.
The Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stated that the State is in one of the greatest growth booms in it's history which was expected to last for several more years, however a lack of skilled workers could bring the boom to a sudden halt it said.
The Western Australian State Training Board has identified as critical the shortages in the construction professions like surveying and civil engineering. It states that these are expected to continue for five to ten years due to the high demand for housing, the resourcing boom and an ageing workforce.
Skill shortages are becoming increasingly common among health professions, chefs, others in the food trade, hairdressers, butchers, fitters, mechanics and welders.
The State Training Board also identified ship building and defence as emerging industries with up to 3,000 new jobs likely to be created at the Australian Marine Complex in Western Australia over the next ten years. The occupations in demand here are design and technology professions, sheet metal workers, machinist, fitters and boiler makers.
The Western Australia State Government has also met with the new Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, to outline the difficulties the skill shortage is having for many of the States industries and, in particular, the hospitality and food industries.