The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, today urged employers to work with the Australian Government to address the shortage of skilled labour.
Addressing a Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (VECCI) Australian Labour Force Challenge panel discussion in Melbourne today, Mr O’Connor said greater engagement with employers and their representative bodies would help the Government to target skills shortages and lift productivity.
He said during the review of the Job Network the Government had listened to employers on how to improve employment services to better meet the needs of job seekers and employers.
The Government is introducing a new employment services system beginning 1 July 2009.
As part of the new system the Government is providing $6 million for industry employment brokers to work with employment services providers to help address labour shortages in particular regions and industries.
A $41 million Innovation Fund will also enable employment service providers to work with employers and develop innovative employment projects to assist those in disadvantaged communities.
“Employers and their representative organisations have strong links within the community,” Mr O’Connor said.
“I believe they are well placed to work cooperatively with training providers, employment service providers and other organisations to help broker employment for job seekers as well as help to address labour and skill shortages.
“The Government wants employers to take the running on this initiative and we are interested in proposals that build labour supply in industries and locations where it is difficult to fill vacancies.
“Employers will benefit from a workforce that is better trained and more attuned to their specific needs.”
The new employment services model is part of the Government’s plan to increase employment participation including the roll out of up to 238,000 additional training places for job seekers over the next five years.
“In the first three months more than 14,000 people have enrolled in the program, with around 600 people completing their training,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The number of people signing up to training is well ahead of the former Work Skills Voucher program, which had 5,946 vouchers issued for the first three months.”