06 February 2008

Whyalla builder shortage: Australian immigration needed

The city of Whyalla is suffering from a labour shortage in its building industry. Calls have been made to get workers in from outside the city, which could lead to an increase in Australian immigration. Skilled workers are needed in the area to make up for the industry boom that Whyalla is enjoying.

Master Builders Association Australia's chief economist Peter Jones, said the problem is not just a local one: "Builders reported increasing difficulty in finding labour in virtually all 15 categories surveyed, with project managers, site managers and foremen/supervisors in chronic shortage. Carpenters, bricklayers and tilers have become much more difficult to find over the past 12 months and there has been a worsening in all categories of building industry labour surveyed."

A local builder also revealed to the Whyalla news that some companies in the area are completely booked up and not able to take on any more work, because of a lack of skilled workers. People with skills in the building trade who are looking to move to Whyalla would need to consult the skilled visa assessing authorities and possibly take a skilled points test. Whyalla is located in South Australia and is a seaport.

Australia needs skilled builders: Anyone applying for an Australian visa should begin by completing the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa application to see if they meet the Australian visa requirements.


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