Engineering skills shortage needs urgent attention, Engineers Australia tells inquiry

Tuesday, 27 March, 2012

Our engineering skills shortage needs urgent attention, Engineers Australia told the Senate Inquiry into the Shortage of Engineering and Related Employment Skills.

“The answer is complex, but includes controlled skilled migration to attest engineering shortfalls, and better government infrastructure planning processes, to manage workforce planning,” said Brent Jackson, Engineers Australia’s International and National Director of Policy.

“Australia produces less than half of its current annual engineering workforce needs. Even with Australian universities and TAFEs producing around 9000 graduates annually, Australia is still unable to provide a reliable domestic solution to these key shortages.”

Jackson reported that, in the last six years, more than one in 20 engineering projects did not proceed because employers were unable to recruit and retain qualified engineers. Millions of dollars have been lost in cost overruns thanks to engineering skills shortages and scoping shortfalls, and many opportunities have been lost for infrastructure projects and sustainable development.

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport has been creating the National Infrastructure Construction Schedule (NICS), a national database of planned government infrastructure investment delivery. The database will enable engineers to plan projects and determine which areas require more engineers, Jackson said.

“We believe the NICS will bring a high degree of transparency to infrastructure scheduling and delivery across Australia. This initiative addresses an issue that Engineers Australia has been examining for some years in the context of our Infrastructure Report Cards.”

The peak body said it has proposed a series of reforms to strengthen the industry, including attracting more women to engineering careers.

“We are keen to see the federal and state governments maintain internal engineering expertise through workforce planning and career initiatives,” said Jackson.