Future Pathways Update

Jobs and Skills Shortage

I present this information as food for thought ….. I am a strong believer that successful careers are a combination of passion, meaningful engagement in the industry and a marketable skill set. However sometimes due to labour market drivers we need to begin our career not with the dream job in mind but developing the marketable skill set to ensure a successful long term career. Often these skill sets are developed through other jobs and transferred into the dream job a little way down the career journey.

Jobs and Skills Australia leads work on skills shortage analysis including the annual Skills Priority List and reports on Skills Shortages. The Skills Priority List provides a detailed view of occupations in shortage in Australia and by each state and territory including the future demand of occupations in Australia. 

Skill Shortage Drivers are designed to help identify the potential causes or drivers of occupations rated “in shortage” in the Skills Priority List. The Skill Shortage Drivers classifies skills shortage into four main drivers based on the likeliest cause of shortage. The four categories are:

• Long Training Gap - few qualified applicants for vacant positions. Bachelor degree; Certificate IV or apprenticeship required.
• Short Training Gap - few qualified applicants for vacant positions. Certificate III or less required.
• Suitability Gap - many qualified applicants, but few suitable applicants 
• Retention Gap - above average job mobility, potentially reinforced by low number of new applicants per vacant position.

Training gaps are areas where employees are lacking knowledge or skills to achieve certain goals at work. Identifying and addressing these gaps helps organisations to ensure that their workforce has the necessary capabilities to perform effectively and contribute to the overall success of the company.

Below is a list of the occupations in each category:

Whilst students have many career opportunities sometimes considering what career to undertake can be overwhelming. Investigating if your interests and passions align with a skill shortage occupation can be a very successful way to enter the workforce. Remember that it is common for people to develop skills in a variety of related industries. This not only makes you very attractive to employers but ensures that you have a successful and rewarding career.

Therese May

Future Pathways Leader