Skills shortage raises dilemma
AN EXODUS of construction businesses from Townsville between 2012 and 2015 has created a growing skills shortage, despite high unemployment, a leading economist says.
Colin Dwyer said Townsville lost about 350 construction businesses during that time when it was the largest business registration sector in the local government area.
“Losing about 10 per cent of those businesses had a big impact on the business community and the workforce in that area as well,” Mr Dwyer said. “We lost those businesses and the workforce that was no longer required moved to their locations.
“Likely to Brisbane and the Gold Coast where there is a lot of building with the Com- monwealth Games.”
N o r t h Queensland was in a reb u i l d i n g phase after the destructive Cyclone Debbie and skilled labour was also needed on major solar projects, Mr Dwyer said.
“There has been strong demand for tradesmen for the rebuilding of the Whitsun- Block layers Looming shortages Construction Scaffolders Welders and boilermakers Port project multiple skill shortages Medium- term shortage expectations Carpenters days and the Bowen regions. Also, electricians are in demand to build the Ross River solar farm, Sun Metals, Edify Energy and Kennedy Energy Park projects.”
Mr Dwyer said a sustainable amount of work was needed to keep skilled tradesmen in Townsville. He said of about 8500 unemployed in Townsville, there were 2000 people on a special dispensation, meaning they did not need to actively look for work.
“We don’t have that skills base in those unemployed that we need to supply people for the projects we are building,” he said.
Mr Dwyer said he knew of electricians being paid $ 75 an hour in Townsville when their counterparts in Brisbane received only $ 35.
He said school leavers and older unemployed people could upskill to take advantage of the demand.
“Townsville has an existing but stronger looming skill shortage,” he said.
“It’s difficult to comprehend that a region with an 8.6 per cent unemployment rate could be struggling for skilled workers but it’s a complex system that requires careful and accurate analysis.
“Dealing with Townsville’s current and looming skill shortages in the immediate term will more than likely not be solved from the cohort of local unemployed because both training and experience are required by employers.”
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