QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT TO HELP ADDRESS SKILLS SHORTAGE
Published Monday, 06 November, 2006 at 12:38 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Specific skills shortages in key professional areas will be identified and targeted under a new State Government plan, Acting Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Arts Rod Welford announced today.
Ms Bligh said the specific strategies would build on the work being undertaken as part of the State Government’s ground breaking $1.1 Billion Skills Plan.
“Young people in our State have the best job prospects in a generation,” Ms Bligh said.
“Our economy is strong and we are enjoying the most sustained period of economic growth ever recorded in our State’s history.
“However, the national skills shortage remains a major challenge.
“There are simply not enough qualified tradespeople to keep up with growth in many of our existing and new industries.
“The Department of Education and Training will undertake a study to help give us a better grasp of prospective shortages in the public and private sectors in Queensland and allow us to develop further strategies to target specific areas.
“In particular we need to look at job shortages in boom areas such as civil engineering, mining engineering and health professions.”
Ms Bligh said one initiative the State Government was keen to look at was an examination of visas for overseas students studying in Queensland.
“As part of the development of these new strategies we will look at the number and type of international students studying in Queensland and determine what potential candidates are available to undertake work experience or internships in skills shortage areas,” she said.
“Obviously we will need to work closely with the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs but is one avenue we are keen to pursue in the short term as part of the solution,
Mr Welford said he expected the initial assessment of the study to be completed by the end of January.
“Research shows that business and industry can’t find enough skilled professionals in areas such as nursing, engineering, finance and business,” he said.
“Figures from the ABS for August 2006 showed there were approximately 39,800 job vacancies in Queensland – 26% of all job vacancies in Australia.
“Unless we develop strategies to overcome these shortages, they have the potential to impact upon the Queensland economy.
“We have been working hard to find more doctors and nurses – and now we need to broaden the approach to other professions.
“We’ll undertake a major study over the next three months to gather further detailed information about the professions and identify where there are significant problems.
“This includes a survey conducted across all Government agencies to assess the extent of professional skills shortages within the public sector.
“The results of these studies will help us develop long-term solutions.
“Skills strategies are already being developed in a range of industries including, building and construction, child care, engineering and health.
“We are also looking at the need for skilled professionals in regional areas where industries such as tourism, horticulture and mining are facing shortages.
“Queensland is already showing the way in terms of vocational training and education through the Queensland Skills Plan.
“We lead the nation with school-based apprenticeships.
“But we also need to meet the skilled needs of business and industry, particularly in high-demand areas such as construction, manufacturing and engineering.
“This new strategy to address professional skills shortages in the private and public sectors will complement the work already being undertaken as part of the Queensland Skills Plan.”
6 November, 2006
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office – 3224 4379