12 October 2007

Latest employment index shows long term Australian skills shortage

The gap between job vacancies and job applicants in Australia continues to widen, according to the latest SEEK Employment Index. September saw a 4.6 per cent rise and Online Recruitment reports that the strong upward trend is evidence the tight employment market will continue. Further Australian immigration is required to meet the shortfall.

Professor Peter Sheehan of the Centre for Strategic Economic Studies commented on the results: "A strong economy, the resources boom and more affordable goods and services are driving demand for labour at a rate the market cannot supply. Detailed SEEK data point to skills shortages in the IT&T, insurance, science and technology and legal sectors."

The highest increases in job vacancies were found in South Australia (6.8 per cent), followed by Queensland (5.8 per cent), NSW (4.3 per cent) and the ACT (4.1 per cent).

The mining and resources boom in Western Australia appears to be attracting job applicants away from other areas as it recorded a 2.3 per cent increase in job applications, while Queensland (-1.6 per cent) South Australia (-0.9 per cent) and NSW (-0.6 per cent) all had falling levels of job applications.

Australia needs skilled workers: 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.