Skilled trades shortage will stunt economic growth

As the global economy recovers from recession, strategic migration policies will be needed in order to create a mobile workforce and plug the gap of skilled workers, according to a new discussion paper by Manpower Australia.

The Talent Shortage Survey of more than 35,000 employers in 36 countries found that in Australia, skilled trades are the number one area of skills shortage. It's a challenge shared by many of the world's biggest economies, including the US, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Brazil, where employers ranked skilled trades as their number one or number two hiring challenge.

The new World of Work Insight Paper titled: Strategic Migration - a Short-Term Solution to the Skilled Trades Shortage, suggested that unless business, governments and trade associations work together to alleviate talent shortages in skilled trades, economic growth will suffer.

"The lack of skilled blue-collar workers can impede the progress of infrastructure projects, particularly in the resources sector, and jeopardise national growth. It's a problem that we must address for the long-term to foster economic health and fuel business growth. In the meantime, increasing the mobility of these workers can help ease the shortage," said Chris Riley, general manager, sales & marketing, Manpower Australia.

In Australia, Queensland and Western Australia are the regions in most need of skilled tradespeople, though plumbers and electricians are in high demand across the country.

"Major projects in the resources sector, particularly Liquefied Natural Gas, are rapidly increasing the skills gap for skilled trades in Australia," said Riley.

Carpenters, Auto-Electricians, Dual Instrumentation Electricians, Heavy Equipment Fitters, Coded Welders and Pipe Fitters are all in high demand across Queensland and Western Australia. 
 
Strategic Migration calls for long-term, collaborative strategies to alleviate shortages of skilled workers, including promoting positive attitudes towards skilled trades and ensuring that the technical training workers receive reflects the current demands of industry. Although migration can provide an immediate solution, these domestic policies should take priority to shape a local workforce for the long term.

"Inadequate training and myths relating to skilled trades are creating a dangerous shortage of skilled workers. Employers and governments need to bring prestige back to the skilled trades and ensure that Australian skilled workers have the necessary technical and 'soft' skills to plug the shortage. While our economy recovers from the economic downturn, providing training programs to promote skilled trades as a viable career choice could open up these jobs to a wider talent pool, alleviating unemployment as well as helping businesses manage their needs effectively," added Riley. 

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