Our lucky country isn’t as lucky as it should be…..

Australia is currently in the grip of a skills shortage. 

No industry is currently feeling this more than construction.  Whilst skilled labour is exceptionally scarce at the moment, finding qualified professional engineers is probably harder than trying to locate the Holy Grail….

Engineers Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans AM says; “Australia has an engineering skills shortage exacerbated by COVID-19, an engineering job vacancy rate that has gone up 97 per cent in just 12 months, and an economic recovery hinging on major infrastructure projects.”

Engineers Australia has reported that job vacancies were up 50 per cent overall for 2021 compared to the year before, with demand for engineers at a ten-year high.

The organisation’s “Australian Engineering Employment Vacancies” report, available at this link, found job vacancies increased the most over 2021 in Queensland (67 per cent), followed by NSW and Victoria.  People are flocking to the Sunshine State!!

Infrastructure Australia, an independent infrastructure advisor, released a report last month predicting a skills shortage in the industry.

Its inaugural Infrastructure Market Capacity report predicts that 105,000 skilled positions may go unfilled by mid-2023, which is three times greater than in 2017 and 2018.

Over the next five years, Australia is investing in a series of infrastructure projects that will exceed $218 billion.

“Australia has ambitious plans when it comes to investing in public infrastructure,” the report said.

“Major public infrastructure activity across transport, utilities and buildings is expected to nearly double over the next three years.

“A skilled workforce that is available when required will be pivotal in realising these plans.”

According to the report, the infrastructure workforce consists of four main occupational groups.

Of the 50 occupations identified in the report, 16 are likely already in shortage, 18 are potentially in shortage and only 16 are estimated to have sufficient capacity to meet existing demand.

Engineering occupations are most at risk of shortage.

This is where RecruitmentBURO come in…..   We are Australia’s only fully integrated recruitment and migration consultancy specialising in engineering.

We are unique in the industry as the only fully integrated team of recruitment, engineering, and migration professionals