Western Australia: Skills in high demand

Western Australia is rich in natural resources like iron-ore, coal, gold or natural gases, and mining is the sector that drives Western Australia’s success. The rapid economic growth of China has driven the demand for certain natural resources and catapulted prices through the roof. 100,000 people are working in mining at the moment, but more are in demand. The job market can’t keep up, and a new study by the immigration department highlighted the lack of qualified workers. Economists even warn that the skill shortage coupled with wage and price increases could damage the economic growth of the booming state. Western Australia is therefore calling out for skilled workers from abroad to maintain growth. Especially in need are engineers and electrical contractors.

Whilst the rest of Australia hasn’t been particularly struggling none of the other states can record a comparable boom. The finance sector, which has been relatively stable compared to the U.S. and Europe has even shed some jobs in 2011. The big four banks National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and Westpac together cut more than 3,300 jobs last year, as figures from the Finance Sector Union show.

Sources:
SMH
Businessbecause
Couriermail
Businessspectator
ABC.net