Language a barrier for businesses

The recruitment specialists who participated in WA Business News’ skills shortage forum believe the Australian business sector has failed to fully explore migration options.

While many businesses are keen to recruit staff from English-speaking countries such as England and South Africa, they are wary about recruiting from other places.

“We see a high level of enquiry for professional people wanting to come to Australia [but] we see significant reluctance from employers to take on people where English is not their first language or people who don’t have work experience in Australia,” Hudson general manager, WA, Neville Andrews said.

“So while there is a big cry for people to come in from overseas, the organisations are struggling with the concept of being the first employer of them in Australia. I think the rhetoric and the reality are a little different.”

His view was endorsed by Beilby general manager, WA, Mark Nicholas.

“I agree with Neville because I am seeing it in the marketplace as well,” Mr Nicholas said.

“We will present a short-list of very highly qualified people but because this is their first job in Australia there is a great reluctance by companies to take them on.

“The bottleneck in what should be a free-flowing current is that I still sense nervousness in Australian companies with regard to bringing skills in from overseas.”

A report released last month by accounting body CPA Australia reached similar conclusions.

It said Australian employers are reluctant to employ migrant account-ants from non-English speaking countries to fill skills shortages.

The report’s authors, Monash University’s Dr Bob Birrell and Virginia Rapson, said this trend was of concern because migrants from non-English speaking countries comprised a major source of available entrants to the profession.

“The report indicates that difficulties with English and lack of Australian professional experience are key reasons why these people struggle to gain employment in Australia,” Dr Birrell said.

Mr Nicholas suggested cultural attitudes were a significant factor.

“I think there is an issue here that is like the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about, and that is attitude,” he said.

This included a continued desire to recruit staff from a handful of prestigious Australian universities.

“There is also an attitude that it’s not a real university if it isn’t Melbourne or UWA or Sydney. If it’s in India it couldn’t possibly be a real degree.”

The Immigration Department announced early this month that 12 senior staff would work with 17 industry groups (see list) to help them deal with skills shortages and boost employer sponsored migration.