Australian Engineering Skills Shortage Threatens Projects

05 Aug 2010

As per Consult Australia’s annual Engineering Skills Survey, a shortage in engineering skills will be a hitch to Australia’s growth and limit innovation and the shortage is estimated to be a threat to $400 billion in infrastructure projects over the coming decade.

Megan Motto, CEO of Consult America while mentioning the shortage of engineering skills stated that the industry as well as the government needs to work together to chalk out a possible solution. Nearly, 75 percent of firms reported the critical shortage along with stagnation in growth of graduates in last 10 years.

He also said, "Environmental engineers are in short supply according to about one third of firms. "With climate change response, sustainability and energy efficiency high on government priority lists, significant concern is warranted." And added that, “It has emerged that shortage of engineering workers is a systemic issue. The shortage of engineering skills is back and is as strong as it was during the global economic slowdown.”

Apart from the acute shortage of civil engineers in Australia, environmental engineering is also badly effected. According to one-third of firms in the survey, Australia is also facing short supply of environmental engineers.

“And this is a cause of serious concern for the climate change, energy efficiency and sustainability which happens to be top priority for the Australian government, Ms. Motto stated.

It may be noted that several eminent industrialists had warned that Australia must relax Australian visa norms if it wants to avoid economic stagnation.