$100B WORTH OF PROJECTS SPARKS WORKFORCE FEARS

It looks like WA is on the verge of a jobs boom according to the State’s peak business group, Chamber of Commerce and Industries WA based on the 30 current and approved projects in the pipeline for the next 2 two years requiring a workforce of nearly 17,000. However, there are fears that there may not be workers to complete all the jobs.

“For the first time on record, WA businesses identify skills shortages as the number one barrier to growth in the coming year,” said CCI Support Australia apprenticeship manager Lena Constantine highlighting that 52% of skills shortages was in the resources sectors across 46% of the construction companies. 

WA Premier Mark McGowan said that WA was on the cusp of a jobs frenzy with the approximate $100 billion worth of projects in the pipeline for the State who commented that “thanks to WA’s strong response to the pandemic, confidence has returned and our State has recognised as a great place to invest.”

The Eastern States is also looking to encounter a building-led recovery meaning competition for labour will be much fiercer than in the past resources boom.

Eager to fill the jobs by already proactively providing training to help staff the projects Mr McGowan had a message for anyone looking to relocate to WA: “Western Australia is the place to be.”

This is a brief summary of the article ‘WA’s jobs conundrum – $100b worth of projects, but have we got the workers needed?’ by Joe Spagnola | The West Australian | Sunday 3^rd January, 2021.