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SKILLED JOBS FOR MIGRANTS

EMPLOYERS are filling fewer than one in six jobs in some trades, research on skill shortages shows. A Labour Department survey of jobs advertised in 16 trades reveals as few as 15 percent in some occupations are filled within six to eight weeks.

The department considers skills to be in short supply if fewer than 80 per cent of jobs are filled within that time.

None of the 16 trades met the 80 per cent target, the department's job vacancy monitor shows.

The worst, shortage was of automotive electricians, with 15 per cent of jobs filled. Bricklayers (23 per cent), cabinet-makers (32 per cent) and fitters and welders (33 per cent) were next-worse.

The department has been monitoring job advertisements to identify skills shortages that could undermine the economy. The results will be used to plan immigration policies and funding for training programmes.

The vacancy pages of 25 daily newspapers are scanned on the first Saturday of each month. Three broad areas are covered: highly skilled, skilled and semi-skilled/elementary.

The research has found the total of advertisements across all areas has recorded double-digit growth each month for 14 months, with an 11 percent increase in February.

"This reflects a deepening of skills shortages in which growth in demand for skills is outstripping supply," the department says.

The problems are worst in the "highly skilled" category, although detailed reports will not be issued until later this month.

The category includes professionals, such as doctors, nurses and information technology workers. Advertised vacancies in these jobs increased 17 percent between February 2004 and 2005.

The department's report on skilled workers found all areas were struggling, except hairdressing.

Tom make matters worse for employers they face raising wages by up to 10 per cent or improving working conditions if they are to hold on to their senior staff.

A remuneration survey from human resources consultants Mercer found that while pay rates for staff in skilled roles have not kept up with economic growth, the dam may be close to bursting.

Mercer principal John Ellen said wages had risen only slightly, but pay expectations were increasing. Staff might be placated by offers such as a better work-life balance, however.

"Workers' higher expectations were based on nurses getting an increase in their base pay rate of 20 to 30 percent, a 6 per cent rise in the minimum wage, an increase in superannuation paid to civil servants, and trade unions' push for a flat 5 per cent increase," Mr Ellen said.

"In the next 12 months, employers will need either a well-thoughtout retention strategy or intervention case by case. If they don't do anything, we think the market will move 7 to 10 per cent."

A survey in November had also found little wage growth, as employers tried to fill skill gaps with staff who did not have the experience.

People hired "on potential" usually commanded a lower salary than the person they replaced. "We don't think that's sustainable any more."

The survey is done twice a year and polls salary movements in several positions in 160 private and public sector organisations, most paying more than the $40,000 average wage.

"With the number of organisations which see labour as their main constraint at a 30-year high, you either have to see wages come up or you have to do something about it," Mr Ellen said.