Consult Australia Report - Skill Shortages (Dec 20)

Skill shortages

Pulse survey results (December 2020)

Skill shortages


Contents

In brief ................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Skill shortages in the current market – overview ......................................................................................... 4

Business impacts and responses to current skill shortages – deep dives for key occupations ............ 6

Civil engineers ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Structural engineers (or bridge engineers) ..................................................................................................... 8 Civil engineering drafters .............................................................................................................................. 10 Transport engineers (or traffic engineers) .................................................................................................... 12 Mechanical engineers ................................................................................................................................... 14 Hydrogeologists ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Electrical engineers....................................................................................................................................... 18

Contact us ....................................................................................................................................................... 20

Skill shortages


18%

44%

38%

In brief

Consult Australia is the industry association representing businesses

in design, advisory, and engineering. Our members provide services

to a broad client base including governments, companies, and

individuals. We represent an industry comprising some 48,000

businesses across Australia, ranging from sole practitioners through

to some of Australia’s top 500 companies.

Consult Australia conducts a skills survey each year to provide an

account of skills, human resources and other workforce demands

affecting its members. Due to COVID-19 impacts and Consult

Australia’s complementary industry health checks throughout 2020, a pulse survey taking a deep

dive on skill shortages, particularly in light of changing demands on the industry from the

pandemic, was conducted instead. This deep dive seeks to identify occupations most affected by

shortages in the current market and to understand the business impacts from skill shortages.

This report summarises findings from Consult Australia’s pulse survey on skill shortages. The

survey was undertaken from 23 November to 2 December 2020.

34 firms participated in the pulse survey, representing 16 per cent of the membership. A

breakdown by business size (based on their Australian operations) is provided below.

Breakdown of participants by business size (based on their Australian operations)

13

15

6

Large businesses (200+ staff)

Medium-sized businesses (20-199 staff)

Smaller businesses (up to 19 staff)

Skill shortages


Skill shortages in the current market – overview

Despite changing demands on our industry, our pulse survey results on skill shortages highlights a

significant challenge for businesses to recruit certain occupations in the current market. Below are

occupations identified by our members as being one of their three most difficult to recruit.

Occupations not included does not imply they are not experiencing shortages – instead, they

simply do not sit in the top three occupations identified by respondents.

Occupations in the industry that are most difficult to recruit in the current market

(those identified in the top three most difficult for businesses participating in the survey)

6.06%

3.03%

3.03%

3.03%

3.03%

6.06%

3.03%

39.39%

21.21%

9.09%

3.03%

6.06%

6.06%

15.15%

6.06%

12.12%

6.06%

6.06%

9.09%

12.12%

3.03%

3.03%

15.15%

6.06%

3.03%

3.03%

15.15%

9.09%

3.03%

3.03%

3.03%

3.03%

3.03%

33.33%

9.09%

9.09%

3.03%

18.18%

9.09%

Acoustic Consultant

Air Quality Consultant

Archaeologist

Architect

Architectural Drafter

Botanist

Chemical Engineer (or Process Engineer)

Civil Engineer

Civil Engineering Drafter

Civil Engineering Technician

Contaminated Land Consultant

Digital Engineer

Ecologist

Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineering Drafter

Engineering Manager

Environmental Consultant

Environmental Engineer

Environmental Scientist

Geotechnical Engineer

GIS Analyst

Heritage Consultant

Hydrogeologist

Hydrologist

Landscape Architect

Marine Scientist

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineering Drafter

Mechanical Engineering Technician

Mining Engineer

Occupational Hygienist

Planner (Transport, Environmental, Urban/Town etc.)

Research and Development Manager

Structural Engineer (or Bridge Engineer)

Structural Modeller

Sustainability Consultant

Transport Analyst

Transport Engineer (or Traffic Engineer)

Waste and Resources Management Consultant

Skill shortages


As this year’s focus is on the top three occupations that businesses find difficult to recruit in the

current market, rather than identifying any occupation that has been affected by skill shortages, we

have not provided a year-on-year summary of changes to these percentages.

Instead, a focus on the top three occupations has enabled us to request further information from

participants on the impacts on their business from these shortages, specific to the occupation, and

on what businesses are themselves needing to do to address these recruitment difficulties. This

has allowed us to collect occupation specific information on:

• Geographic locations most affected by shortages

• Experience levels (i.e., level of seniority) impacted

• What businesses are seeing a lack of in applications

• Steps outside of advertising that businesses are undertaking to address skill shortages

This deep dive for key occupations (those over 15 per cent) is below.

Skill shortages


Business impacts and responses to current skill shortages – deep dives for key occupations

Civil engineers

Please see footnote below for further information on ANZSCO code.1

Locations where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for civil engineers

(percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)

Experience levels where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for civil engineers


1 ANZSCO stands for ‘Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations’ and is used by governments

as a standardised approach to categorising occupations in the labour market. ANZSCO codes are therefore used for skills-related policy activities, and to inform government programs such as the skilled migration program. See more here.

39% Percentages of businesses

who included this occupation is in their top

three most difficult to recruit

233211

ANZSCO code

0%

17%

0%

0%

0%

0%

25%

17%

33%

25%

33%

8%

33%

25%

50%

NT regional

Darwin

Tas regional

Hobart

Canberra

SA regional

Adelaide

WA regional

Perth

QLD regional

Brisbane

Vic regional

Melbourne

NSW regional

Sydney

75%

83%

8%

8%

Senior/principal

Mid-level

Early career

Graduate

https://www.abs.gov.au/anzsco

Skill shortages


Key reasons behind the recruitment difficulties for civil engineers


Steps taken by businesses in response to recruitment difficulties for civil engineers


It was also noted that some businesses have increased job flexibility and superannuation, and

covered relocation costs as other steps to respond to recruitment difficulties.

Businesses also noted that the current circumstances mean it is difficult to use the skilled migration

system as a next step to recruitment difficulties for civil engineers.

8%

17%

8%

17%

50%

92%

8%

25%

Remunerationconcerns

Locationconcerns

Workloaddemandconcerns

Lack ofapplicants

with the softskills needed

Lack ofapplicantswith thetechnical

skills needed

Lack ofapplicantswith the

experienceneeded

Lack ofapplicants

COVID-19impacts

17%

25%

42%

17%

33%

25%

42%

Other

Changed the role's responsibilities

Initiatives to promote the profession

Relaxed required skills/qualifications

Relaxed required experience

Significantly increased wages (>10%)

Slightly increased wages (< 10%)

Businesses who use employer sponsored visas

for civil engineer roles

58%

Skill shortages





Structural engineers (or bridge engineers)

Locations where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for structural engineers (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)

Experience levels where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for

structural engineers (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)

233214

ANZSCO code

18%

27%

18%

18%

27%

18%

36%

36%

45%

27%

45%

27%

64%

45%

64%

NT regional

Darwin

Tas regional

Hobart

Canberra

SA regional

Adelaide

WA regional

Perth

QLD regional

Brisbane

Vic regional

Melbourne

NSW regional

Sydney

73%

91%

64%

45%

Senior/principal

Mid-level

Early career

Graduate

Skill shortages


Key reasons behind the recruitment difficulties for structural engineers


Candidates being poached by contractors and government agencies, along with larger consulting

businesses were flagged as other key reasons behind the recruitment difficulties facing businesses

for structural engineers.

Steps taken by businesses in response to recruitment difficulties for structural engineers


COVID-19 impacts on the skilled migration system was again flagged as a significant impact on

businesses in regards to their recruitment difficulties.

0%

9%

27% 27%

73%

82%

36%

18%


Locationconcerns


Lack ofapplicants



skills needed


experienceneeded

Lack ofapplicants

COVID-19impacts

27%

18%

18%

36%

27%

45%







Businesses who use employer sponsored visas for structural engineer roles

45%

Skill shortages


Civil engineering drafters

Locations where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for civil engineering drafters (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)

Experience levels where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for

civil engineering drafters (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)




312211

ANZSCO code

0%

14%

0%

0%

27%

0%

14%

13%

43%

28%

14%

0%

0%

0%

28%

NT regional

Darwin

Tas regional

Hobart

Canberra

SA regional

Adelaide

WA regional

Perth

QLD regional

Brisbane

Vic regional

Melbourne

NSW regional

Sydney

73%

57%

43%

57%

Senior/principal

Mid-level

Early career

Graduate

Skill shortages


Key reasons behind the recruitment difficulties for civil engineering drafters


Inadequate vocational training for civil engineering drafters was flagged by multiple businesses as

a key reason behind recruitment difficulties.

Steps taken by businesses in response to recruitment difficulties for civil engineering drafters


Businesses flagged that they are reaching out to local schools to promote opportunities in this

occupation, and are actively offering cadetship to year 12 students.

0%

14%

0% 0%

71%

14%

57%

0%


Locationconcerns


Lack ofapplicants



skills needed


experienceneeded

Lack ofapplicants

COVID-19impacts

27%

57%

43%

43%

0%

29%








for civil drafter roles

0%

Skill shortages


Transport engineers (or traffic engineers)

Locations where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for transport engineers (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)

Experience levels where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for transport

engineers





233215

ANZSCO code

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

17%

0%

50%

0%

50%

0%

66%

0%

50%

NT regional

Darwin

Tas regional

Hobart

Canberra

SA regional

Adelaide

WA regional

Perth

QLD regional

Brisbane

Vic regional

Melbourne

NSW regional

Sydney

100%

100%

16%

0%

Senior/principal

Mid-level

Early career

Graduate

Skill shortages


Key reasons behind the recruitment difficulties for transport engineers


One business noted a distinct lack of applicants in the local labour market, which is exacerbated

because transport engineering is highly specialised work.

Steps taken by businesses in response to recruitment difficulties for transport engineers


Businesses emphasised that this occupation has been significantly impacted by limited access to

global talent through the skilled migration system throughout 2020.

33%

14% 17%

0%

100%

83%

33%

50%


Locationconcerns


Lack ofapplicants



skills needed


experienceneeded

Lack ofapplicants

COVID-19impacts

17%

50%

0%

0%

33%

50%



Relaxed requiredskills/qualifications


Significantly increased wages(>10%)


Businesses who use employer sponsored visas for transport engineer roles

83%

Skill shortages


Mechanical engineers

Locations where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for mechanical engineers (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)

Experience levels where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for mechanical

engineers





233512

ANZSCO code

0%

0%

0%

0%

20%

0%

0%

0%

20%

0%

0%

0%

20%

0%

80%

NT regional

Darwin

Tas regional

Hobart

Canberra

SA regional

Adelaide

WA regional

Perth

QLD regional

Brisbane

Vic regional

Melbourne

NSW regional

Sydney

60%

80%

40%

20%

Senior/principal

Mid-level

Early career

Graduate

Skill shortages


Key reasons behind the recruitment difficulties for mechanical engineers


Steps taken by businesses in response to recruitment difficulties for mechanical engineers


0% 0%

20%

40%

60% 60%

20%

0%


Locationconcerns


Lack ofapplicants



skills needed


experienceneeded

Lack ofapplicants

COVID-19impacts

20%

20%

0%

60%

0%

60%







Businesses who use employer sponsored visas for mechanical engineers

20%

Skill shortages


Hydrogeologists

Locations where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for hydrogeologists (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)

Experience levels where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for hydrogeologists





234413

ANZSCO code

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

50%

0%

75%

0%

50%

0%

75%

NT regional

Darwin

Tas regional

Hobart

Canberra

SA regional

Adelaide

WA regional

Perth

QLD regional

Brisbane

Vic regional

Melbourne

NSW regional

Sydney

75%

75%

0%

0%

Senior/principal

Mid-level

Early career

Graduate

Skill shortages


Key reasons behind the recruitment difficulties for hydrogeologists


Steps taken by businesses in response to recruitment difficulties for hydrogeologists


Businesses again noted the significant impacts of COVID-19 and reduced skilled migration on the

recruitment difficulties for this profession.

0% 0% 0% 0%

75% 75%

50% 50%


Locationconcerns


Lack ofapplicants



skills needed


experienceneeded

Lack ofapplicants

COVID-19impacts

0%

25%

25%

25%

50%

50%








for hydrogeologists

100%

Skill shortages


Electrical engineers

Locations where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for electrical engineers (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)

Experience levels where businesses are experiencing recruitment difficulties for electrical

engineers (percentage of applicable businesses who agreed)




233311

ANZSCO code

0%

0%

0%

0%

20%

0%

0%

0%

20%

0%

20%

0%

80%

0%

100%

NT regional

Darwin

Tas regional

Hobart

Canberra

SA regional

Adelaide

WA regional

Perth

QLD regional

Brisbane

Vic regional

Melbourne

NSW regional

Sydney

80%

40%

40%

20%

Senior/principal

Mid-level

Early career

Graduate

Skill shortages


Key reasons behind the recruitment difficulties for electrical engineers


One business noted a lack of appropriate training courses as another reason for recruitment

difficulties for electrical engineers.

Steps taken by businesses in response to recruitment difficulties for electrical engineers


20%

0%

20%

0%

40%

60%

20% 20%


Locationconcerns


Lack ofapplicants



skills needed


experienceneeded

Lack ofapplicants

COVID-19impacts

20%

60%

40%

20%

20%

60%








for electrical engineers

80%

Skill shortages


Contact us

We would welcome any opportunity to further discuss this report. To do so, please contact:

Nicola Grayson

Chief Executive

Consult Australia

[email protected]

James Robertson

Policy Lead – People and Pipeline

Consult Australia

[email protected]

Credit: the icons of professionals in this report are from Eucalyp.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

https://www.flaticon.com/authors/eucalyp

Consult Australia Report - Skill Shortages (Dec 20)

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