Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has recently released the 2024 Occupation Shortage List (OSL), previously known as the Skills Priority List. This tool outlines occupations facing shortages where employers struggle to fill vacancies or face considerable challenges in finding suitable candidates. The OSL serves as a metric for the Australian labour market providing insights into the occupations experiencing the highest demand and the sectors where skilled labour is most needed. Let’s see what the 2024 Occupation Shortage List have found.
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭
𝟏. 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞
33% are currently in national shortage. The top five occupations experiencing the most significant shortages are:
a. Aged or Disabled Carers
b. Primary School Teachers
c. Secondary School Teachers
d. Truck Drivers
e. Electricians
𝟐. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲
The data reveals an interesting correlation between gender representation and occupation shortages. Those where either men or women make up at least 80% of the workforce are more likely to experience shortages. Whereas the occupations with at least 20% representation from both genders tend to avoid shortages, which suggest that increasing workforce diversity could be a strategic approach to alleviating labour market pressures.
𝟑. 𝐀𝐠𝐞-𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬
The analysis suggests that age-inclusive employment practices can be an effective strategy for addressing occupational shortages particularly in ageing populations. By promoting the inclusion of older workers, organisations can benefit from their experience, skills, and contributions to the workforce.
𝟒. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬
73% of employers continued to advertise positions in the same places over the past year. Surprisingly, only 1% of employers adjusted pay as a strategy to attract talented workers. This indicates a reliance on non-remuneration strategies like improving workplace conditions or offering flexible work arrangements.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
The insights from the OSL are important for shaping future training and funding policies to meet Australia’s labour needs. For example, developing programs that align with high-demand sectors and occupations, promoting gender balance and age inclusiveness in the workforce, and or employers exploring alternative recruitment approaches beyond traditional advertising and salary adjustments.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
The 2024 Occupation Shortage List (OSL) is a comprehensive resource for understanding the current state of Australia’s labour market. By highlighting occupations in shortage and analyzing trends in workforce diversity and recruitment strategies, the OSL offers valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and employers alike. Whether you’re involved in shaping training programs, developing policies, or managing recruitment, the OSL provides the data needed to make informed decisions and address Australia’s evolving labour needs.