Slowdown fails to alleviate skilled labour shortage

Australia’s skilled labour is experiencing a severe drought, despite rising unemployment levels, according to the latest figures released by Clarius Group with KPMG-Econtech.

The Clarius Skills Index – the first ever national indicator measuring supply and demand for skilled labour – has shown skills shortages occurring in 13 of the 19 occupation categories analysed, at their highest levels since 2001. Such categories include construction, engineering, health and IT.

The national combined total for the September quarter for available and taken jobs reached 3.275 million, with only 3.155 million people to fill them.

According to KPMG Econtech senior economist, Chris Murphy, a further peak in unemployment will do little to alleviate the labour skills shortage.

“At this stage, we don’t expect the increase in unemployment to eliminate skills shortages across the economy.”