Of Skills and Trades: How Does the Australian Job Market Fare?

Many people might think that the Australian job market is in a wobbly state, but actual economic figures disagree. The growth rate remains below 1%, but the figure is the same for fellow OECD countries, such as Germany and Japan. Comparing the Aussie condition with the international market also shows that the country is in good shape. The work hours are quite short (average of 34 hours per week) for a competitive average salary of USD 77,000.

As a matter of fact, figures from the Australian government show that there are many vacancies to fill at the moment. Thanks to economic progress, corporations and businesses can create jobs. Most of the openings are skills-based jobs.

Trades, such as food and automotive have numerous openings, although the country is having a hard time finding the right people for positions in these industries. Migrant workers do fill these positions from time to time, though. There is also some shortage in accountants, ICT professionals, and school teachers in the country, although these posts are quite easy to fill compared to other trades.

The location also plays a role in determining how easy or difficult it is to fill a position. Government statistics show that New South Wales is the most challenging place when filling vacancies. Regional areas of Queensland and Darwin also prove to be a challenge when it comes to recruitment. In contrast, official data and Perth-based recruiters both say that they have it easy in Western Australia. Brisbane and Adelaide also have no problems finding the right people for job openings.

Multiple factors come into play when it comes to skill shortages, job vacancies, and overall employment. Although there are quite a few issues that the government needs to iron out regarding employment, we can all agree that the economy is in pretty good shape. After all, with all the precautions the government has taken, it is only a matter of time before progress speeds up once more.