The skills shortage in NSW and indeed Australia as a whole is an extremely complex issue.

The complexity is due to the many factors affecting the availability of skilled people. For example, the minerals boom in Western Australia and to a lesser extent in Queensland and the high wages on offer led to the exodus of many tradespeople from other states. Sometimes a skills shortage might stem from technological changes in a particular industry that demand new skills sets.

There is no uniform solution applicable across the board but different approaches can work
and partnerships involving government, business and communities are often effective.

Businesses can become a more effective employer and an employer of choice, use salary and
other incentives to attract skilled workers, improve recruitment practices, and draw labour from a number of sources.

These pages also contain numerous supporting examples of practical action taken by various regional businesses and the results achieved.

Visit this website's Skills & HR links for a listing of relevant internet resources.