Understanding skill shortages - lessons from the printing industry: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Australia

Citation

(2007), "Understanding skill shortages - lessons from the printing industry: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Australia", Education + Training, Vol. 49 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2007.00449dab.010

Understanding skill shortages - lessons from the printing industry: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Australia

Australia’s printing industry, a significant employer in the manufacturing sector, is working to address its current skill shortage by gaining a greater understanding of how to respond and find solutions to labour hire problems, according to new research.

The research, “Understanding and resolving the skills shortage in the Australian printing industry”, by Professor Victor Callan, may be of interest to other industries experiencing similar challenges.

The crucial word is “understanding”. This message is emphasised in a report by Professor Sue Richardson, also from the NCVER, which explains what a skill shortage actually is. “Professor Richardson’s work dispels some myths associated with the notion of skill shortages and sets out some clear thinking on the meaning of the term”, says Dr Tom Karmel, Managing Director of NCVER. “If we gain a greater understanding of this issue, we are able to identify the circumstances which are likely to be resolved by market forces and the specific market conditions that require policy intervention, including action from Australia’s training system”.

The printing industry is a case in point. Professor Callan’s work highlights that finding a solution to skill shortages requires a strategic, coordinated response from three main groups-industry, the employer, and training organisation. Industry needs to provide a strategic, long-term action plan; employers must promote solutions within the workplace; and training providers must broaden their approaches to traditional training. “The research shows that currently there is a tendency for the industry to invest money in technology rather than to examine the complex issues at the heart of its skill shortage problem”, says Dr Karmel. While the printing industry is tackling the skills shortage through designing and trialling accelerated apprenticeships-one of the first industries nationally to do so-the research suggests other ways forward. These include developing a far-reaching vision and long-term strategy for dealing with future workforce requirements and presenting a new image of the industry to attract skilled staff.

Copies of “Understanding and resolving the skills shortage in the Australian printing industry” by Professor Victor Callan, and of “What is a skill shortage?” by Professor Sue Richardson, can be accessed at: www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1733.html