Abstract
The Australian Construction Industry is nowfacing skills shortages in all trades. As anindustry focused on the skill of its workforce,there is now concern the Australian standard inquality, workmanship, and productivity will inhibitboth at national and international level.This research paper addresses the underlying,influential factors concerning skills shortages inthe Australian construction industry. Theinfluential factors addressed include funding,training statistics, employer expectations,financial limitations, Industrial Relations andimmigration. Given the reference to skillsshortages within the industry, and documented inrelated literature, if skills shortages are tocontinue to exist, their effect will impact upon theoverall performance of construction companiesthroughout Australia.
Highlights
The construction industry in Australia is currently undergoing revolutionary changes
The research question this paper aims to address concerns the underlying issues surrounding skills shortages in the Australian construction industry
The Australian construction industry relies heavily on the skills of its workforce to be productive at both national level and international level
Summary
The construction industry in Australia is currently undergoing revolutionary changes. When assessing the Cole Royal Commission Report, The Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee (2004) found a "growing shortage of skilled labour". The National Industry Advisory Body (2003) identified a diverse range of factors contributing to current and future skill shortages. These include: an ageing workforce and forthcoming retirement rates; changing skills required from various occupations; differences in demand and/or supply of skilled workers as a result of employment arrangements; poor educational qualifications translating into smaller and lower numbers of successful job applicants; inadequate apprenticeship rates and difficulties in attracting and retaining employees (The Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee, 2003)
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