ANZSCO 2333-11 South Australia
Electrical Engineer April 2017
Labour Economics Office South Australia
Department of Employment
Current labour market rating No Shortage
Previous labour market rating (April 2016) Recruitment Difficulty
Comments
Employers recruiting electrical engineers in South Australia were easily able to identify suitable applicants to fill advertised vacancies. As a consequence, the occupation is rated as no shortage.
Survey results
· Surveyed contacts included electrical systems design, engineering building and electrical infrastructure businesses.
· The survey of recently advertised vacancies for electrical engineers revealed all vacancies were filled within a six week time frame, up from 57 per cent in 2016 but similar to results recorded in 2014 and 2015.
· On average, employers attracted just over 45 applicants per vacancy compared with 2016 where 25 applicants per vacancy were received.
· While most applicants were deemed unsuitable, an average of 3.0 suitable applicants was received per vacancy, representing a substantial increase on the 2016 results (1.7).
· Consistent with the previous year’s report, contacts noted that electrical engineers with experience in the mining sector were readily available.
· Employers cited applicants with automation skills and experience were relatively scarcer in the labour market.
· In comparison to the previous year, no difficulty was encountered recruiting electrical engineers with suitable experience and qualifications within the building sector.
· Considering on average multiple suitable applicants were available for vacancies and all vacancies were filled, no general shortage of electrical engineers currently exists in South Australia.
Unsuitable applicants
· Employers required applicants to be degree qualified; 21 per cent of all applicants did not meet this minimum criterion.
· Of the remaining 79 per cent of applicants who were qualified, employers cited a lack of experience in the occupation and a lack of specific experience as the most common reasons for applicant unsuitability.
· For example, experience in the mining sector was not considered transferrable to a range of other industries.
· Similarly,employers considered applicants unsuitable if specific experience in automation could not be demonstrated.
Demand and supply trends
· Demand for electrical engineers is driven by electrical engineering infrastructure projects, and activity levels in the mining, manufacturing and construction industries.
· In 2016 there was an 11 per cent increase in the value of construction work done in electricity generation, transmission and pipelines[1]. Despite the increase, levels remain only two-thirds of the value of work done in 2013.
· Expectations for industries influencing demand of electrical engineers are conflicting.
o Construction work yet to be done in electricity generation, transmission and pipelines in 2016 is higher in South Australia than the previous two years[2].
o A monthly survey of metal and engineering businesses show positive trends in current and expected activity and workforce changes for SA in March 2017 compared with March 2016[3].
· Demand for electrical engineers is also influenced by the level of expected building activity. The total value of SA building approvals increased by 14 per cent in 2016 compared with the previous calendar year[4].
o Disaggregated data showed a strong 25 per cent increase in non-residential building approvals and a modest increase in the value of residential building approvals of 7 per cent in 2016 compared with the previous calendar year.
· Following a four year trend of decreasing vacancy counts, the number of internet vacancies for electrical engineers in South Australia increased in the year to March 2017[5]. Despite the increase, vacancy numbers remain subdued in comparison to the years 2006 – 2012.
· Multiple contacts referred positively to the state of the labour market and believed there are appropriately qualified, skilled and experienced electrical engineers available.
· University training is the major source of supply to the occupation. According to the Department of Education and Training the number of undergraduate completions in electrical engineering courses in SA increased in 2015 compared with 2014[6]. A reduction in commencements has occurred in two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015.
Labour Economics Office South Australia
Department of Employment
[1] ABS, Engineering Construction Activity, Australia, Cat. No. 8762.0, Table 22 (four quarter total of original data)
[2] ABS, Engineering Construction Activity, Australia, Cat. No. 8762.0, Table 23
[3] A monthly survey of South Australia’s Metal and Engineering Industries conducted by the Australian Industry Group South Australia
[4] ABS, Building Approvals, Australia, Cat. No. 8731.0 Table 33
[5] Department of Employment, Internet Vacancy Index
[6] Department of Education and Training, Higher Education Student Data Collection, 2015, customised tables