A third of Western Australia’s employers say they expect to increase hiring over the next year, but job seekers are still reluctant to head west, according to a new survey.
Manpower Group’s latest Employment Outlook Survey, released today, showed 33 per cent of employers in WA expected to take on staff, while only four per cent were looking to decrease recruitment.
Manpower’s Australia and New Zealand managing director, Lincoln Crawley, saod a talent war was “running rife” in Western Australia, as employers with ambitions growth plans or large resources projects compete for skilled workers.
“A number of major projects in Western Australia are overdue for completion, which has delayed the release of key skills to other projects that had anticipated a talent transfer,” Mr Crawley said.
“We have also seen strong competition for talent coming from large projects in Queensland, where Western Australia is seen as a talent rich sourcing pool.
Mr Crawley said, however, that despite high employment expectations, WA had not been completely insulated from the economic uncertainty enveloping other Australian regions.
“We’re seeing a higher proportion of companies holding off on growth plans, only committing to must fill positions instead of ramping up for upcoming projects,” he said.
“But once those projects come to fruition, the pressure on the employment market will be even greater.
“Western Australian employers need to become much more innovative in attracting job seekers to the west – there simply isn’t enough people here at the moment to cope with demand.”
