National skills data shows encouraging lift in hiring

“The national Skills Commission data released today shows an encouraging lift in employers expecting to hire,” Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

“A large share of the difficulty employers are having filling vacancies is due to a lack of suitable skills in the available workforce despite the current levels of unemployment (reflected in reported shortage of people of technical skills, suitable experience and the lack of applicants).

“Skills shortages evident before the COVID-19 crisis remain in short supply and our underinvestment in skills development over an extended period will hold back the ability of employers to help lift the economy out of the current slump.

“The availability of applicants is also being impacted by the additional Coronavirus Supplement available for people out of work and with the unavailability of people who are not currently working but in receipt of JobKeeper,” Mr Willox said.

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