The jobs we just can’t fill in South Australia
SKILL shortages in jobs ranging from winemakers to airconditioning mechanics, panel beaters and locksmiths has the State Government looking overseas for workers.
Calling all golf pros. And sheep farmers, midwives and flower growers. Your state and your country needs your skills to fill holes in its workforce. MATT SMITH reports.
SKILL shortages in jobs ranging from winemakers to airconditioning mechanics, panel beaters and locksmiths has the State Government looking overseas for workers.
This is despite a 60 per cent drop in the number of apprentices and trainees in SA over a three-year period. The figures have prompted calls from the state’s largest business lobby for payroll tax exemptions to get more young South Australians into jobs.
The State Development Department’s nominated occupations for skilled migrants lists 169 occupations, including plumbers, chefs, chicken farmers, project builders and motorcycle mechanics.
An additional Federal Government supplementary skilled list includes a further 415 jobs that can filled by migrants who reach certain criteria, including links to SA.
Occupations include golfer, wool classer and journalists.
Figures show skilled migrants are taking the opportunity to work in South Australia, with an average of 2100 roles a year filled for each of the past five years.
Business SA Industry and Government Engagement executive director Anthony Penney said 39 per cent of businesses surveyed last year found it hard to attract skilled workers, even at competitive rates of pay.
“While skills shortages are an issue, particularly in areas like those which will deliver the future submarines contract, we also need to ensure that our young people have the opportunity to access traineeships and apprenticeships to provide them with access to a wide range of jobs,” Mr Penney said.
National Centre for Vocational Education Research figures show the number of apprentices and trainees starting in SA has plummeted in recent years. The most recent data shows, between 2012 and 2015, the number of apprenticeships and traineeships started in SA fell from 25,641 to 10,235 – a 60 per cent drop.
Mr Penney called on the State Government to consider re-establishing the payroll tax rebate, which it abolished in 2012, for apprentices and trainees.
“The future of many job opportunities also revolves around employees having a range of particular skill sets, and we encourage Government funding for skills to increasingly focus on the skill sets required by industry and not just broader qualifications,” he said.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said the Government would consider any Business SA submissions in the lead-up to the State Budget.
Mr Koutsantonis pointed to a range of programs that encouraged small and medium-sized businesses, including one that provides grants of up to $10,000 for every additional staff member they employ.
“These grants have been popular with businesses taking on apprentices and I encourage (small and medium-sized enterprises) to consider taking on new apprentices and accessing these grants,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
SA Council of Social Services chief executive Ross Womersley said it was important people who could not find jobs in Australia were not faced with additional competition.
“When I look at the list of occupations ... there are certainly a number of them that would appear to be suitable for people within Australia,” he said. “Our training institutions ought to be paying attention to where there are so-called job opportunities and the Government needs to be working hard to develop skills in those areas in an effort to drive down unemployment.”
SA HIGH-AVAILABILITY JOBS
● Mechanic
● Bricklayer
● Roof tiler
● Gasfitter
● Chef
● Shearer
● Glazier
● Panelbeater
● General Practitioner
● Midwife
● Fleet manager
● Sheep farmer
AUSTRALIAN JOB OPPORTUNITIES
● Golfer
● Flower grower
● Pig farmer
● School principal
● Antique dealer
● Librarian
● Dietitian
● Dentist
● Hairdresser
● Cinema or theatre manager
● Plumbing inspector
● Make-up artist