Deloitte Access Economics Skill shortages in the resources sector

Energy Skills Queensland - Addendum of workforce planning report

Report name:	Workforce Planning Report Part B - Addendum Labour Market Analysis - Demand and Supply Prepared for the Queensland Coal Seam Gas / Liquefied Natural Gas Industry
Date:	September 2009
Author:	Energy Skills Queensland
Publisher/Industry/Government affiliation:	Energy Skills Queensland
Subcontractor involved:	-
Primary/Secondary research	Primary
Key sectors	Minerals and energy industry with a focus on Queensland

The Addendum of the Workforce Planning Report brings together an analysis of key industry trends and pivotal issues likely to impact on the demand for skills and labour as well as the capacity and capability of its future workforce supply.

Critical skills shortages are currently faced in the industry by the occupations in Table 1.5.1.

Table 1.5.1 - Occupations facing critical skills shortage that are in demand by the QLD CSG/LNG Industry

State & Territory Skill Shortage areas

Chemical Engineer

Civil Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Petroleum Engineer

Engineering Manager

Production or Plant Engineer

Geosciences/Geologist

Production manager (Mining)

Civil Engineering Associates

Electrical Engineering Associates

Mechanical Engineering Associates

General Electrician

Fitter

Drillers

Vocational Education Teachers

QLD

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

NSW

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

VIC

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

ACT

S

S

S

S

D

S

NT

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

SA

D

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

WA

S

S

S

D

S

S

S

S

S

R

S

TAS

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

D

AUS

S

D

Note: S = State-wide shortages; D = Recruitment difficulties (tend to be State-wide); R = Regional Shortage

The CSG/LNG Industry looks to employ from the regional economies of Mackay-Fitzroy-Central ,West and the Darling Downs-South West. The Addendum highlights that the current capacity of the regional labour force will not be enough to sustain the anticipated workforce growth of the CSG/LNG Industry. It predicts that "competition will be fierce in mining; electricity; gas and water; finance and insurance; transport and storage and manufacturing.

With regards to professional engineering and science roles, the Addendum notes that as the requirement for industry experience increases to between 5 to 20 years, it will likely increase the difficulty to recruit from within the State to fill these roles, given the recent emergence of the industry in the State. As a result, QLD will face increased competition from other states to recruit and retain its required workforce.

The Addendum then provides an overview of demand and supply conditions for the above-mentioned critical skills shortage roles. The conclusion is that all of these occupations are facing significant shortages in available supply over the coming years.

6.