Tremaine says industry skill shortage growing critical

<p>A critical shortage of skilled workers over the next decade in Australia’s $60bn-a-year transport and logistics industry, could threaten the nation’s future economic growth, the South Australian Freight Council has warned.</p> <p>A poor community perception of the industry, leading to an inability to attract workers, was the major contributing factor to the looming jobs shortage, the council said as it unveiled a national industry careers information program designed to attract people to the industry..</p> <p>The Logistics Information and Navigation Centre was officially launched in Adelaide yesterday (Wednesday, May 17) by the state minister for transport, Pat Conlon.</p> <p>This web-based resource will enable the public, business and the freight industry to access specific information on career pathways and job information, industry sector information, assistance in locating service providers and major facilities, and fact sheets on diverse topics, including regulatory change.</p> <p>Young people and other job seekers will be able to investigate jobs and plan career pathways through the transport and logistics industry, and learn about the skills and experience necessary to progress within the industry.</p> <p>SAFC chairman Vincent Tremaine said Australia’s future economic viability relied on the efficient management of Australia’s transport, storage and logistics industry.</p> <p>"This crucial industry underpins every decision made by consumers, and is the vital cog in the wheel that keeps all Australian industry running," he said. "Without it, Australian industry and thousands of jobs will simply stall."</p> <p>Mr Tremaine said this country’s transport, storage and logistics industry accounted for about 9% of Australia’s GDP &#8211 or about $60bn a year. </p> <p>"From a SA perspective, it is worth about $4.85bn a year to the economy, while nationally, the industry employs about 411,000 people, including about 30,800 in SA," he said.</p> <p>"With current industry and government forecasts predicting the national transport task to double over the 20-year period to 2020, there are already some critical shortages arising that need to be urgently addressed."</p> <p>Mr Tremaine said the immediate challenge for the industry to combat the worker shortage was to change "people’s mindset", by educating the community to the opportunities, diversity and challenges of a rapidly evolving and sophisticated industry.</p> <p>LINC has been designed with that specific objective in mind by offering a "one-stop shop" for freight transport and careers information.</p> <p>"As an industry, we need to change the way we are perceived &#8211 and quickly," Mr Tremaine said.</p> <p>The freight council believed that its on-line logistics centre was the first step in the process of attracting new industry professionals, he said.</p> <p>"If the interest we have already received is any indication, we are confident the program will be embraced on a national level very quickly," he said.</p> <p>The centre will be promoted through schools, professional industry associations and next week’s Careers Expo in the <em> Advertiser</em> .</p> <p>More information is available at: www.the-linc.com.au</p> <br />