ANZSCO 3411-11Tasmania

Electrician (General)August 2017

Labour Economics Office Tasmania

Department of Jobs and Small Business

Current labour market ratingNo shortage

Previous labour market rating (September 2016)No shortage

Comments

Employers are experiencing no shortage of electricians (general) in Tasmania with the large majority of vacancies being filled and all surveyed employers receiving qualified applicants for their advertised vacancies.

Survey results[1]

  • The Survey of Employers who have Recently Advertised for electricians (general) found 93 per cent of advertised vacancies were filled within the survey period. This compares with 88 per cent of vacancies filled in September 2016 and 100 per cent in September 2015.
  • Surveyed employers reported receiving an average of 3.7 applicants per vacancy, which has reduced when compared with the 2016 survey results of 5.5 applicants per vacancy.
  • There was an average of 1.9 suitable applicant per vacancy changing little from 2016 (average of 1.7 suitable applicant per vacancy).
  • Metropolitan based employers attracted 1.5 suitable applicant per vacancy compared with 3.1 suitable applicants among regional employers.
  • All surveyed employers sought trade qualified electricians, with employers receiving an average of 2.7 qualified applicants per vacancy.
  • Of the small number of vacancies that remained unfilled, employers advised qualified applicants later withdrew their application or declined due to location.

Unsuitable applicants

  • The main reason employers found qualified applicants unsuitable was due not having the specific industry experience required (such as commercial construction).
  • Less than a third of qualified applicants were deemed unsuitable by employers.

Demand and supply trends

  • Demand for electricians is influenced by the level of activity in the Construction and Manufacturing industries. The value of building work in Tasmania has increased by 16.5 per cent over the three years to March 2017, with growth being stronger than the national average of 12.9 per cent over the same period.[2]
  • Some of the surveyed employers reported that demand for electricians was stimulated by recent and upcoming construction activity in Southern Tasmania.
  • Demand for electricians is expected to grow over the next few years.
  • Construction industry employment in Tasmania is projected to grow by 7.9 per cent over the five years to November 2020 compared with 5.1 per cent for all industries.[3]
  • Formal training for the occupation mainly comes from the apprenticeship system through the delivery of a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician course.
  • In the 12 months to March 2017, 108 electricians completed their training compared to an average of 103 electricians completing training over the previous three years.
  • In the year to March 2017, 105 electricians commenced their training compared to 124 in 2016.[4]

Other indicators and issues

  • There are a number of government and commercial activities which may be driving demand in the construction and building industry:
  • The Tasmanian Government has extended the First Home Owner Grant from 1 July 2017 to

30 June 2018 and has also made changes to stamp duty for first home builders, which should support additional building activity in the state.[5]

  • Tasmania is progressing towards a more streamlined state-wide Planning Scheme, removing the need for council permits for a number of building and renovation projects.[6]
  • The Launceston City Deal was signed by the Australian Government, Tasmanian Government and City of Launceston on 20 April 2017. The Launceston City Deal is a five-year plan (from 2017 to 2022) that is expected to drive activity in the construction sector in northernTasmania.[7]
  • There are currently a number of incentives for businesses hiring apprentices in Tasmania, including the Skills Tasmania travel and accommodation allowances; and the Tasmanian Department of State Growth Small Business Grant to support apprentices and trainees program (introduced in July2017). These initiatives are aimed at increasing the number of apprentices and trainees employed in Tasmania including within the Building and Construction sector.[8]

Labour Economics Office Tasmania

Department of Jobs and Small Business

[1] The methodology underpinning this research is outlined at Skill Shortage Research Methodology | Department of Jobs and Small Business - Document library, Australian Government and can also be accessed by the QR code.

[2]Australian Bureau of Statistics, Building Activity Australia, (Cat No. 8752), March 2017, chain volume measures, trend

[3]Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2016 Regional Projections to November 2020, based on ABS detailed data

[4]National Centre for Vocational Education Research, National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, March 2017 estimates, unpublished

[5] Tasmanian Government Department of Treasury and Finance, First Home Owner Grant, September 2017

[6] Tasmanian Government Department of Justice, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services, July 2017

[7] Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Smart Cities Plan - The Launceston City Deal

[8] Tasmanian Government Skills Tasmania, Incentives and subsidies for apprentices, trainees and their employers, September2017