Addressing Skills Shortages in Australia Report Released

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Australia has released the ‘Addressing Skills Shortages in Australia Report’ today.

With three of RICS’s major professional pathways (including quantity surveyors, construction project managers and certifiers) experiencing chronic, long-term, nation-wide shortages and planners being in short supply in Australia’s regions the Report it putting forward a range of recommendations to Australian policy makers to help resolve some of the issues being experienced.

These include recognising the importance of engaging with young people early to promote the key role that construction professionals play in the sector rather than simply portraying construction roles as being “on the tools” and raising awareness of how well paid, globally transferable and interesting construction professional roles can be.

RICS is also highlighting the crucial role of ensuring that there are specific degrees and vocational training available to students who are considering roles such as building certification and quantity surveying potentially accompanied by additional incentives to entice students into these professions.

RICS is also recommending that more could be done to look at ways to attract more mature individuals who are going through a career change (particularly from allied professions) as well as streamlining immigration systems and introducing a national licensing regime.

Kevin Brogan FRICS FAPI, Chair of the RICS Australasia Regional Advisory Board:

"From the perspective of skills and skills shortages, there aren’t enough people to meet the needs of the construction sector in Australia (and in many other countries around the world).  Those people who are within the sector don’t always possess the skills they need to deliver construction projects in the most efficient and effective way possible.  Key research studies by the RICS, leading Australian government bodies (including Infrastructure Australia) and international bodies are all pointing to the significant opportunities that highly skilled construction professionals can make in terms of productivity, reduced costs and improved profit margins.

"While it may seem self-interested, the RICS wants to encourage more construction professionals to consider becoming chartered surveyors, in quantity surveying, project management, building control surveying and planning because doing so provides such a good foundation which underpins success not just for the individual but importantly for the sector and the wider economy.

"We also want to see more being done to promote the important role of the construction professional and to attract the next generation of professionals to experience the opportunities these careers can offer."

For more information:

Mel Rohan
mrohan@rics.org