Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) provides Skills Shortage Analysis for occupations in the Australian labour market. They provide an annually updated Skills Priority List (SPL) with occupations in shortage in Australia, and Skills Shortage Drivers (SSD), which help to identify the potential causes of an occupation’s shortage.
Skills Shortage Drivers (SSD)
The SSD classifies skills shortages into four main categories:
- Long Training Gap
- Short Training Gap
- Suitability Gap
- Retention Gap.
Occupations (ANZSCO 4-digit occupations) on the SPL, and deemed ‘in shortage,’ are put into one of these categories, based on the most likely cause. It should be noted, however, that many occupations will have more than one driver of shortages. The SSD companion paper provides more information on its limitations, topology, methodology, and sources.
The Skills Shortage Drivers for Australia’s Nursing Workforce
|
ANZSCO4 Occupation |
Skills Shortage Driver |
|
Midwives |
Long Training Gap |
|
Nurse Educators and Researchers |
Long Training Gap |
|
Nurse Managers |
No Shortage |
|
Registered Nurses |
Long Training Gap |
‘Longer Training Gap’ is the main SSD for the Nursing Workforce in Australia
Longer training gap shortages are characterised by few qualified applicants per vacancy and a long training pathway – corresponding to a Certificate III or above. Shortages of this nature are particularly challenging because increasing the number of skilled workers must account for the significant time lags inherent in the training process.
While a Longer Training Gap is the main driver of Australia’s nursing workforce shortage, other factors also contribute. A Suitability Gap, which is the most likely shortage driver for ANZSCO Skill Level 1 occupations (equivalent to a bachelor's degree or above), and a Retention Gap, identified as the primary cause of workforce shortages for aged and disabled carers, enrolled and mothercraft nurses, and nursing support and personal care workers, could also contribute to workforce shortages in the nursing and midwifery sectors.
