A parliamentary question addresses Western Australia's skills shortage, seeking definitions, estimations of need, and identification of critically short skill sets. The Minister provides definitions, data sources, and forecasts, acknowledging a significant skills deficit.

AnsweredQoN 768Legislative Council
Asked
20 September 2011
Portfolio
Training and Workforce Development

QuestionView source ↗

SKILLS SHORTAGE
I refer to Western Australia’s skills shortage. (1) How does the government define a “skilled” position, employment or vacancy? (2) What is the estimated number of skilled people needed in Western Australia today? (3) What is the estimated number of skilled people needed in Western Australia in the next five and 10 years? (4) What skill sets are critically short in available personnel today? Hon PETER COLLIER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A skilled occupation is defined as an occupation that requires specialised skills learnt in formal education and training. Very broadly, skilled occupations are generally considered to include managers, professionals, technicians, trades workers and community and personal service workers. (2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
(1) How does the government define a “skilled” position, employment or vacancy? (2) What is the estimated number of skilled people needed in Western Australia today? (3) What is the estimated number of skilled people needed in Western Australia in the next five and 10 years? (4) What skill sets are critically short in available personnel today? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A skilled occupation is defined as an occupation that requires specialised skills learnt in formal education and training. Very broadly, skilled occupations are generally considered to include managers, professionals, technicians, trades workers and community and personal service workers. (2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
(2) What is the estimated number of skilled people needed in Western Australia today? (3) What is the estimated number of skilled people needed in Western Australia in the next five and 10 years? (4) What skill sets are critically short in available personnel today? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A skilled occupation is defined as an occupation that requires specialised skills learnt in formal education and training. Very broadly, skilled occupations are generally considered to include managers, professionals, technicians, trades workers and community and personal service workers. (2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
(3) What is the estimated number of skilled people needed in Western Australia in the next five and 10 years? (4) What skill sets are critically short in available personnel today? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A skilled occupation is defined as an occupation that requires specialised skills learnt in formal education and training. Very broadly, skilled occupations are generally considered to include managers, professionals, technicians, trades workers and community and personal service workers. (2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
(4) What skill sets are critically short in available personnel today? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A skilled occupation is defined as an occupation that requires specialised skills learnt in formal education and training. Very broadly, skilled occupations are generally considered to include managers, professionals, technicians, trades workers and community and personal service workers. (2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A skilled occupation is defined as an occupation that requires specialised skills learnt in formal education and training. Very broadly, skilled occupations are generally considered to include managers, professionals, technicians, trades workers and community and personal service workers. (2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A skilled occupation is defined as an occupation that requires specialised skills learnt in formal education and training. Very broadly, skilled occupations are generally considered to include managers, professionals, technicians, trades workers and community and personal service workers. (2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
(1) A skilled occupation is defined as an occupation that requires specialised skills learnt in formal education and training. Very broadly, skilled occupations are generally considered to include managers, professionals, technicians, trades workers and community and personal service workers. (2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
(2) The Department of Training and Workforce Development does not compile data on skilled vacancies on a point in time—that is, on a daily basis. (3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
(3) The department does not have a specific time interval for forecasting labour demand and supply. When “Skilling WA: A workforce development plan for Western Australia” was released on 10 December 2010, modelling based on Monash University forecasts of labour supply and demand suggested that Western Australia was facing a shortage of up to 150 000 skilled workers by 2017. Recently updated analysis by the Department of Training and Workforce Development indicates that Western Australian employers may experience a deficit of around 76 000 skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2014–15. This recently updated projection shows that just over half of WA’s jobs growth to 2014–15 will be in higher skilled occupations. These projections are reviewed on an ongoing basis as new data becomes available that reflects the prevailing economic conditions and changes to labour supply over the forecast period. (4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.
(4) The Department of Training and Workforce Development compiles the state priority occupation list—SPOL—on an annual basis. The current SPOL contains 239 skilled occupations currently in high demand. The full listing can be found on the department’s website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au. This occupational list is then mapped to the relevant vocational qualifications for the purposes of allocating training resources, including skill sets.

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