Australia Notes Shortage Of Skilled Workers And Impact On Productivity

Via
Sydney Morning Herald

Jobless fall confirms serious skills shortage


An unexpected fall in the unemployment rate leaves the nation still facing a costly skills crisis that business and governments must respond to, according to a recruitment specialist.

New data showed the unemployment rate fell to a five-month low of 4.1% in August, just shy of the 34-year low of 3.9% set in February.

Clarius Group managing director and chief executive officer Diana Eilert said the data confirmed the nation faced continued serious skills shortages.

"Policy makers across government and key business sectors should increase efforts to encourage highly-skilled expats back in to the Australian workforce,'' she said.

She said the serious skills shortages were costing companies hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity because of the unavailability of home-grown specialist skills compounded by a lack of skilled migrants.

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