Skills shortage already back: Clarius
Numerous sectors have already returned to a state of skills shortage, according to the latest Clarius Skills Index.
The index, which measures the supply and demand for skilled labour, found that during the March 2010 quarter, 15 out of 20 job groups had reported increases in demand. This followed strong increases in demand for 17 job groups during the December quarter.
(A demand score of 100 indicates equal tension between labour supply and demand. Anything greater than 100 indicates a skills shortage.)
The overall index for all 20 categories rose from 99.0 in the December quarter to 99.6 at the end of March, and some eight job categories were now back in shortage.
The most severe skills shortages during the quarter were in metal trades (up 4.3 points on the index to 105.1), chefs (down 0.3 to 104.5) and automotive trades (up 1.7 to 101.7).
Demand for hairdressers increased 1.2 points to 101.4.
Building and engineering associate professionals rose 0.5 to 100.5, and IT professionals were up 0.8 to 100.6 on the index.
Building and engineering professionals were static at 100.5
Demand for wood trades was down slightly by 0.2 points on the index, but the group remains in shortage, at 101.0.
Meanwhile an oversupply of labour still exists in the other job groups measured by the index, including scientists (99.3), accountants (99.2), auditors (98.3), marketing and advertising professionals (98.1), business professionals (98.5), health professionals (99.7), social workers (98.7), associate health professionals (97.9), electricians (97.0), construction trades (99.8), printing trades (97.3), and food workers (99.9).
Government should re-evaluate 457-visa policies: COO
Clarius COO Kym Quick said that while the talent shortage was "a distant memory for many employers last year", it had lost no time in re-emerging.
"We are seeing major infrastructure projects and programs, such as the National Broadband Network and Building the Education Revolution program already being affected by a lack of quality skilled staff in the construction and computing professions and trades."
Pressure on the federal government was likely to increase this year, Quick said, as the skills shortage once again became one of the most serious threats to growth for Australian businesses.
"Employers, particularly in the big end of town, will require clarity on the 457-visa rules, which many will feel need to be more flexible."