Better employment opportunities forecast for Australia
Moneycorp, 01 Aug 2010
There should be improved opportunities across a number of occupations between now and 2014/15, according to Australia’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
With VAT in the UK rising to 20% in January and what the Institute for Fiscal Studies labelled the ‘longest, deepest, sustained period of cuts to public services spending at least since World War II’, many UK residents will be looking for opportunities abroad. The positive signs in the Australian job market bode well for prospective migrants.
According to DEEWR, occupations with good prospects in Australia include a wide range of health professions, civil engineers, computer network professionals, electricians, social workers and teachers. Prospects for draughtspersons, panel beaters and printers are deemed average, while those for machinists and clothes trade workers are below average.
DEEWR cautions that the projections should be used circumspectly, as good employment opportunities may arise even in occupations deemed to have limited scope.
More people in work
Employment in Australia is on the rise generally, with more than 20,000 extra people employed in June 2010 compared to the month before, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Figures from the Australian Labour Market Update (ALMU) reveal that employment statistics among immigrants to Australia vary significantly. In general, people who have been in the country for at least three years have appreciably lower unemployment rates. English language ability also plays a major role, with those proficient in the language finding it easier to gain employment.
There is also an employment pattern related to immigrants’ country of origin. For instance, migrants from the Netherlands and Greece have relatively low unemployment rates compared to those from the Lebanon, China and India. While figures for UK immigrants aren’t as good as those for people from the Netherlands or Greece, they are still below the average unemployment rates for Australia as a whole.
Consistent growth since May 2009
ALMU’s quarterly update reveals that employment increased by 1.7% over the year to the second quarter of 2010. Employment growth has now been consistently positive since May 2009. ALMU expects the increase in employment to continue for the rest of the year.
In the year to February 2010, the largest employment increases were recorded in professional, scientific and technical services (+77,600). Administrative and support services, health care and social assistance, as well as education and training each recorded about 40,000 new jobs.
The employment rate for various professions relates closely to the level of skill involved. Higher unemployment is generally associated with lower-skilled occupations. While the unemployment rate for managers and professionals hovers around 2%, it is about 5% for community and personal service workers, administrators and sales people, as well as machinery operators. Among labourers, the unemployment rate is over 8%.
Skilled Vacancies Index
DEEWR compiles a Skilled Vacancies Index (SVI) for specific occupations and locations, which provides a good indication of where migrants might have the best chance of finding employment.
Currently, the majority of people – as well as the majority of skilled professionals – are employed in New South Wales, with 3.4 million people in work. Victoria has 2.8 million and Queensland 2.2 million in employment.
Advertised vacancies over the 12 months to February 2010 decreased for professional occupations (-32%), with health professions showing a marked decrease of nearly 50%, followed by accountants and auditors at -36.5%. Trade occupations fared quite well, growing by 18.6%. Metal trades were up 70%, automotive up 35% and construction just under 30%.