The Albanese government’s Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor is restarting stalled negotiations with the states on easing acute skills shortages. But the shortages are not where many in the business community expect.

It is natural for business organisations to declare that skills shortages exist and must be addressed. Any self-interested business owner wants a stream of highly skilled workers generating revenue and profits. Governments also need a supply of suitably skilled workers to successfully deliver quality healthcare, education and public services, or face declining popularity and electoral defeat.