Business & Industry

The Business and Industry section of the South East LLEN website provides you with information including skills shortages, School based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SbAT’s), career opportunities and emerging projects within the region including the Dandenong First  and the Port of Hastings projects.

The Business and Industry section will aim to deliver information that will keep you informed on future job prospects that may develop in order to create a range of opportunities for young people in our region.

The low down on skills shortages and emerging industries in the South East

The 5 most important NICS skill shortage areas identified in research & investigations are:

• Transport & Logistics
• Manufacturing
• Government & Community Safety
• Building & Construction
• Community Services & Health

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

Industry statistics

• Currently employs nationally 427,000 (21% increase over past 10 years – Road Freight Transport main employer)
• Average age 45 years
• Represents 5% GDP (expected to grow by 1.2% over coming years compared to “all industry” of 1.3%)
• Total freight task, including shipping to double by 2020 (strongest growth areas predicted to be “Storage” & “Services to road transport”)
• OTTE predicts additional 4,880 workers each year to 2010

Why important to us

• Supports & compliments large manufacturing base in Dandenong
• Impact of EastLink and proposed Port of Hastings likely to generate further interest
• Move to large hub distribution centres (need to service growing outer south eastern suburbs)
• South East location provides good access to central Melbourne

Local intelligence

• Relatively untapped as a future career option for young people (however 20-24 year old numbers have dropped by 4,400 over past 10 years)
• Chisholm offering new course in 2007 – Cert IV Logistics & Supply Chain for school leavers
• Like manufacturing T&D has image problem – all truck drivers
• Main demand is for drivers – all classes and warehouse based positions including forklift drivers

Potential Jobs

• Drivers
• Postal Workers
• Site Managers
• Team Leaders
• Business Analysts

Source – skillsinfo.gov.au & others

MANUFACTURING

Industry statistics

• Currently employs nationally 956,000 full time workers
• Expanding at 1.8% for last 10 years (expected to grow at 0.6% compared to “all industry” of 1.3%)
• Represents 11% GDP
• OTTE predicts additional 2,110 workers each year to 2010 (small increase seen in 2007 – up 14,600 over 2006 – concern is low intake of young people 15-24 year olds – down 34,000 since 1996)

Why it’s important to us

• Dandenong manufacturing base contributes $5billion to national economy & generates 40% of Victoria’s manufacturing output
• Industry to become more specialised – less labouring jobs more technical skills required
• Support industries attracted to area

Local intelligence

• Blurring of traditional roles occurring
• Industry still struggling with poor image
• Specialist engineering skills in strong demand and likely to remain high
• Fitter & Turners, Boilermakers, Electricians & Engineers main occupations require

Source – skillsinfo.gov.au & others

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY SAFETY

Industry statistics

• Australian Government to spend $1billion over 10 years on Dept of Defence recruitment issues (New Federal Government has indicated it will maintain Defence budget)
• Retention rates amongst older personnel of concern (new initiatives have started to stem the flow)
• 6,000 extra persons required – many to army

Why important to us (opportunistic)

• Location of HMAS Cerberus
• Secondary employment options in contract management & APS
• Training second to none – future career prospects particularly in technical/engineering

Local intelligence

• Many sophisticated technical positions available – electronics, communications & combat systems
• Year 10 pass required although Navy prepared to accept year 10 commencement for entry
• One year student trial proposed as part of new recruitment strategy
• Defence – Marine & Electronic Technicians main opportunities
• Local Government – Planners, Maternal & Child Health Nurses, Engineers & Town Planners
• Education – Maths, Science Teachers (secondary), Trade Teachers (TAFE)

Source – local research

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

Industry statistics

• Currently employs nationally 895,000 in construction alone (936,000 – August 2007 grown 9 out of last 10 years)
• Many older workers leaving before retirement – no reasons offered by industry
• Represents 6.2% GDP (industry growing at 6% pa for past 5 years – expect growth at 1.7% pa for coming years compared to “all industry” of 1.3%pa)
• 35% workforce over 45 years (remains much the same in 2008)
• OTTE predicts additional 2,880 workers each year to 2010

Why it’s important to us

• Casey/Cardinia growth corridor
• Impact of EastLink on further commercial development
• Dandenong redevelopment projects & creation of new industrial parks

Source – skillsinfo.gov.au & others

Local Intelligence

• Cardinia – 4,575 new residential dwellings projected for 2007-2010
• Greater Dandenong – 4,200 new residential dwellings projected for 2006-2011
• Casey – 54,292 additional households projected for 2001-2030 – (2,500 new houses each year which translates to 48 houses each week)
• Considerable commercial construction work currently underway/planned across region
• Over 40 active residential housing estates in outer south east
• HIA predicts 41,510 housing start in Victoria in 2008 and 43,450 in 2009
• ABC news reported in February 2008 a possible house shortage of 200,000 by 2010
• Main skill shortages – painters, roof-tilers, wall-tilers, bricklayers

COMMUNITY SERVICES & HEALTH

National industry statistics

• Currently employs nationally 995,000 (1,088,000 – August 2007 or 10.4%)
• Fastest growing – 157,000 jobs last 5 years (expected to grow at 3% pa compared to “all industry” of 1.3%)
• Represents 9.7% GDP
• 44% workforce over 45 years (47% compared to “all industry” of 39%)
• OTTE predicts additional 6,280 workers each year to 2010

Why it’s important to us

• Rapid population growth – first home buyers particularly in south east corridor
• Aging population Australia wide
• Need for new community infrastructure to keep up with local demographic changes – staffing

Local intelligence

• Department of Human Services – child protection, disability services, juvenile justice, social workers
• Peninsula Health comments – nursing, occupational therapists, dieticians
• Aged/Child Care services (additional 4000 babies in Casey area each year)

Source – skillsinfo.gov.au & others