A Skills Survey undertaken by national employer association Ai Group has highlighted the dire skills shortage in the trades.
The survey found 71% of participants had difficulties meeting requirements for workers in the trades and tech industries.
Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said the survey sounded yet another alarm on the skills shortages and gaps plaguing the Australian economy.
“Our survey of close to 350 business leaders from a wide range of Australian companies asked businesses about their skills and workforce needs and challenges,” he said.
“Businesses report that when they need to implement a new business model, adopt a new technology or just plan to increase customer demand, they are constrained because they are struggling to secure the right people with the right skills to get the job done.
“When it comes to the answers, all roads lead to education and training – skilling, re-skilling and upskilling – at scale. It’s complex, but it can be done.
“We need to start rebuilding our workforce at home as a matter of urgency. It is a huge national challenge. No sector of our population should be left out. Age, gender, geography, current education attainment, disability or disadvantage should not matter. If we are serious about building an economy for the future, we need to use all the at our disposal.”
What can be done?
The survey also found 82% of businesses intended to maintain or increase the amount of expenses used on staff training and development in the next 12 months.
A further 74% of businesses said they’d be interested in hiring TAFE students as higher-level apprentices or cadets.
Suggestions from Ai Group in addressing shortages included the focus on developing management capabilities and microcredentials for employee growth, ensuring apprenticeship and trainee incentives establish a training pipeline as well as removing barriers between VET courses and tertiary education systems.
You can find out more about Ai Group’s findings at aigroup.com.au.