Australia is currently experiencing a national skills shortage in a number of occupations. The government plan to fill this gap with a combination of training local Australians and recruiting immigrants.
A total of almost half a million workers are needed in almost every industry, from hospitality and tourism to construction, technology, agriculture and mining, as well as teachers and nurses. There is also a severe shortage of tradespeople; mechanics, builders and plumbers - the list goes on.
A 2022 government commissioned report [1] into the Australian workforce revealed a major skills shortage affecting the country. The number of occupations suffering from the skills shortage has almost doubled since 2021, with some roles having thousands of unfilled vacancies [2].
Lack of investment in training and education
There has been a shortfall of training and education pathways tailored to emerging skills needs, which has resulted in a shortage of workers with the skills and qualifications needed to fill open positions in emerging sectors such as cyber-security or data analytics.
Information from the 2021 census, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today, found that health care, retail, construction and education employed the most people across Australia.
Key points: Australia does not have enough workers to meet demand. The number of job vacancies is at a record high. Migration, childcare and housing are all factors making it harder for employers to find staff.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a substantial increase in labour market underutilisation, with more people wanting a job, or to work more hours, than employers need. While the economic outlook is highly uncertain, it is likely that the unemployment rate will remain elevated for a number of years.
While employers expect skills shortages to continue into 2023, they are more prominent in some key sectors of the economy.
About 3.5 million workers are “missing” from the workforce, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. That is how much bigger the labor force would be if the number of people working or looking for work returned to pre-pandemic levels. But as it is, there are more openings than job seekers.
Australians are putting in some of the longest working hours in the world with one in five putting in at least 45 hours a week.
The research found over a third (36 per cent) of Aussies always find it hard to log off at the end of a standard workday. In addition, a whopping 86 per cent of workers have had to cancel or delay personal plans due to working late, with almost a third (30 per cent) saying they do this often.
The Working Holiday Visa is a temporary visa available to U.S. citizens aged 18 to 30, and allows them to work and travel in Australia for up to 12 months. The Skilled Work Visa is a visa for U.S. citizens who have been sponsored by an Australian employer, and allows them to work and live in Australia permanently.
Make some serious cash! Even though the cost of living in Australia is high (higher than the United Kingdom, Ireland and the USA for sure) – the pay there is even higher! Australia offers one of the best average salaries in the world. You could easily make some serious cash, often double your current one.
To move to Australia for work, you can apply for any type of work visa as long as you meet the eligibility criteria for obtaining one. Most work visas are permanent visas, which will help you become a permanent resident of Australia.
Key statistics
unemployment rate remained at 3.5%. participation rate remained at 66.8%. employment increased to 14,045,800. employment to population ratio remained at 64.5%.
In May 2023, Tasmania had the highest unemployment rate among all states and territories in Australia with approximately 4.2 percent of those eligible to work jobs not in employment. Queensland had the second highest unemployment rate of 3.9 percent.
Unemployment Rate in Australia averaged 6.66 percent from 1978 until 2023, reaching an all time high of 11.20 percent in December of 1992 and a record low of 3.40 percent in October of 2022.
It can be quite hard for a foreigner to get work in Australia if they are not prepared to be flexible. To secure a job, you may need to consider taking a lower-level position, or retrain to a field that is in demand. Once you have an Australian job, you can use it as a basis to prove your skills and experience.
The average annual salary in Australia is $68,900 and $35.30 per hour. It is just the average salary for basic workers but skilled and experienced workers also earn around $108,980 annually. The average salary also varies depending on the field of work and the job role of workers.
1. Surgeon ($457,281) Surgeons were the top-paying job in the country, making an eye-watering $457,281 per year. There are 4,157 in Australia.