Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released the experimental Skills Shortage Drivers (SSD) analysis to identify the potential causes or drivers of occupations rated ‘in shortage’ in the Skills Priority List (SPL). The SSD classifies the skills shortages in the Skills Priority List (SPL) into four types, based on the likeliest cause of the shortage.
The four categories are:
- Long Training Gap
- Short Training Gap
- Suitability Gap
- Retention Gap
A fifth category ‘Yet to be Determined’ is also included.
The four classifications have been informed by data from the Survey of Employers who have Recently Advertised (SERA) and are not mutually exclusive.
The JSA analysis found that the most common SSD was the Long Training Gap. This gap is defined by few qualified applicants per vacancy and a long training pathway – corresponding to a certificate III or above. This suggests a need to increase the number of available skilled workers but with significant time lags involved in the training process.
This was followed by the Retention Gap, where there are below average rates of retention, potentially reinforced by low numbers of new applicants per vacancy. Ways to enhance the attractiveness of the occupation through improved remuneration and/or working conditions, professional development and clearer career pathways would be potential solutions to alleviate this kind of shortage.
The final two Gaps, Short Training and Suitability, were identified as the largest SSD in certain high employing occupation groups.
Short Training Gap arises when there are few applicants per vacancy and qualifications less than a Certificate III are required. This suggests a need to increase the number of available skilled workers, with shorter time lags involved in the training process. The Suitability Gap occurs in those occupations where there are enough qualified applicants, but they are not regarded as suitable. Reasons cited include a lack of employability skills and work experience. The solution is to enhance the attributes of qualified applicants through investing in their employability skills and work experience.
