The Australian labour market softened over 2013 and skill shortages continued to abate. Employers recruiting in 2013 generally filled their vacancies with ease and had large fields of applicants from whom to choose. In 2013,
employers filled a higher proportion of vacancies than they have at any time in the last seven years
job seekers applying for skilled vacancies faced relatively strong competition, with an average of 13.9 applicants per vacancy. That said, based on the department’s research, shortages exist for a number of occupations, particularly amongst trades.
Six professions were in shortage in 2013, as were 18 technicians and trades worker occupations.
Eleven occupations have been in shortage continuously over the five years to 2013, down from 27 over the five years to 2011.
The easing of pressure is across the board:
One might seriously ask why 457 visa requirements are about to be loosened.
David Llewellyn-Smith is Chief Strategist at the MB Fund and MB Super. David is the founding publisher and editor of MacroBusiness and was the founding publisher and global economy editor of The Diplomat, the Asia Pacific’s leading geo-politics and economics portal.
He is also a former gold trader and economic commentator at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the ABC and Business Spectator. He is the co-author of The Great Crash of 2008 with Ross Garnaut and was the editor of the second Garnaut Climate Change Review.
