Darron CharlesworthSkills training lagging
May 10th 2010 21:08
Category: No Category
An article today from the Adelaide Advertiser is critical of the types of workers prioritised through migration. The article, “Wrong workers given priority”, shows that skills in trades are not being given enough attention. Why is it however, that with over 5 million Australians unemployed skills for trades need to be imported?
It was not so long ago that nearly every high school had a Trade Workshop. That this is no longer the case shows that the choice to remove these training centres from schools was not good policy. The Howard Government realised the mistake made in removing these trade workshops and promised to reverse this decision. Although the good intention was there it appears that little progress has been made following through on the promise. Now that the Liberals are no longer in power it remains unclear if Labor will continue this agenda.
More importantly, there is a skills gap which could be addressed if the government were to offer places to the unemployed in good quality training where skill gaps are apparent. The tertiary training sector in Australia is a good one. There are many centres which provide work skills and could be put to good use if properly funded. Potential workers interested in learning in areas of skill shortages should be provided with all the training they require to move them into the workforce.
Utilising the current pool of unemployed would be prudent for Australia’s future. A strong case can be made to import some groups of workers. However, while Australia has a large group of unused and under utilised workers there is little need to further stress available resources, such as water and housing, when there is a surplus domestically.
It was not so long ago that nearly every high school had a Trade Workshop. That this is no longer the case shows that the choice to remove these training centres from schools was not good policy. The Howard Government realised the mistake made in removing these trade workshops and promised to reverse this decision. Although the good intention was there it appears that little progress has been made following through on the promise. Now that the Liberals are no longer in power it remains unclear if Labor will continue this agenda.
Utilising the current pool of unemployed would be prudent for Australia’s future. A strong case can be made to import some groups of workers. However, while Australia has a large group of unused and under utilised workers there is little need to further stress available resources, such as water and housing, when there is a surplus domestically.
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