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West tops the list of job vacancies

WESTERN Australia is arguably the best state in the country to secure employment.

Figures from the Labour Market June Quarter 2005 show that, aside from the Canberra, West Australia has the highest employment rate at 74 per cent and the lowest unemployment rate at 4.7 per cent, compared to the national average of 5.1 per cent.

According to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), while job vacancies fell in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia by between 1 and 18, West Australia recorded an increase in vacancies up by 13 per cent over the year to July 2005.

Of the 4300 skilled vacancies (for professionals, associate professionals and trades) Australia wide in July 2005, more than 1335 of them were in West Australia.

And on Australian Jobsearch, DEWR's online employment site, there were 7770 job vacancies in mid July in West Australia. The occupations that had the most vacancies were: sale assistants and storepersons (2469), labourers, factory and machine workers (1312), food, hospitality and tourism (648), gardening, farming and fishing (520), and metal and engineering trades (349).

If you are considering which sector to enter, the top 10 vacancies by occupation throughout Australia are:

• Sales assistants and storepersons

• Labourers, factory and machine workers

• Food, hospitality and tourism

• Gardening, farming and fishing

• Marketing and sales representatives

• Metal and engineering trades

• Drivers and transport

• Clerks, receptionists and secretaries

• Social, welfare and security

• Building and construction.

Of course, there are employment opportunities in many other industries.

While employment in traditional commodity based industries like manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishing is on the decline, service based industries have increased dramatically their share of employed persons. Property and business services, health, and accommodation, cafes and restaurants are high employing sectors.

Overall, the trades, particularly building and construction, and engineering professions offer good prospects for long-term job security, with a shortage of skilled workers in most areas.

Other jobs offering good employment prospects include accountant, auto electrician, chef, childcare worker, dentist, hairdresser, lawyer, nurse and other health professionals, and upholsterers.

Sweeping changes are inevitable in the future world of work that is influenced by an increasingly technology-driven, knowledge-based economy.