Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest quarterly Labour Market Update highlights an increase in full-time employment and improvements for the long-term unemployed.

After a slight easing in the level of demand during the December 2022 quarter, job advertisements increased by 2.8 per cent (7,700 job advertisements) between December 2022 and March 2023, to 282,100. Recruitment difficulty, which dropped below 60 per cent in January 2023, also increased to 64 per cent in March 2023. Both figures are, however, still down from the June 2022 peak.

The report finds skills shortages continue, particularly in regional areas and in many occupations including general practitioners and resident medical officers, registered nurses, medical imaging professionals, early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers, cooks, chefs, motor mechanics, automotive electricians and mining engineers.

Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor said it is imperative for Government to work with jurisdictions, industry, the VET sector and universities to educate and train more Australians and improve access to relevant courses and degrees across the nation.

“To provide greater opportunity in Australia for secure and rewarding employment we must continue to skill and reskill our workforce.”

Australia’s tech workforce also grew eight per cent in the past 12 months to 935,000, driven by an increase are software developers, data analysts and cyber security jobs working in non-tech companies, such as banks and supermarkets.

The Government’s expects to reach 1.2 million technology-related jobs by 2030. In a bid to meet this, the government is also working with industry to train more Australians in tech.

“Skills shortages are gripping the nation and the tech sector is no exception,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Database and systems administrators, ICT security specialists and systems analysts remain in the top 20 occupations in demand.”

The full insights, and list of 20 most in-demand occupations, is available in May 2023’s Labour Market Update.

How the Victorian Chamber can help

People are the greatest asset of every business.

Yet keeping that workforce edge is equally the greatest challenge. The Post-COVID skills shortage makes an integrated jobs and skills strategy more critical than ever.

While recent Federal and State Budget announcements contain reforms to migration and investment in VET and TAFE, businesses seeking more immediate solutions have access to the Victorian Chamber’s suite of services.

Enable your employees to excel by building capability in your team and nurturing your top performers with a learning and professional development plan with the Victorian Chamber. Explore our plans below to see examples of what you can offer your employees.

We offer scheduled training at our facilities and onsite training courses held at your premises/business. The courses can also be customised exclusively for your team at your workplace, tailored to meet your specific business requirements.

For a limited time get 10 per cent off training programs using the code EOFY10.

The Victorian Chamber is also your trusted navigator for workplace relations and HR support, staffing solutions through apprentice and international services, and membership options for wherever you are in business.