Ausbuy

Employment Policy

July 22nd, 2007

A Skilled Workforce

Australia is currently suffering from a skill shortage which is seriously holding back economic development.

Both political parties seem to regularly interchange the words, skilled and educated as if they were identical. No doubt they are connected, but a degree in Creative Arts will produce an educated person and will do little to address the problems of the mines in Western Australia. Conventional thinking by both parties was that increased investment in tertiary education would create a clever country with all the skills required in plentiful supply. The reality has proved somewhat different and the problem is going to get worse as the changing demographics of Australia come into play. The average age of many trades and professions is increasing with no policy in place to replace all those who will retire.

The media is now belatedly waking up to the problem, but some of the solutions they are espousing are patently absurd and would appear to reflect the political and philosophical views of some lobby groups. One superficially attractive idea is to carry out vocational training at school. This ignores the fact that the schools do not have the qualified staff or the facilities available and the kids will rapidly lose interest in and forget skills that they have no opportunity of putting into practise. To provide meaningful training and the acquisition of work related skills it is necessary to involve industry. Since many of our major companies are foreign owned, appeals to patriotism are not sufficient.

Ausbuy believes that we should introduce a targeted training levy with credits being given to companies who operate approved trainee schemes. These should be supported by an enhanced TAFE which is resourced to provide the necessary support. The training should be competency based and salary progression should reflect enhanced skills rather than time spent as a trainee. The advantages of these traineeships must be promoted so that there will of suitable candidates who believe that acquisition of these skills will result in well paid and satisfying employment.

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