By CASEY NEILL
EMPLOYERS in Melbourne’s south east need to change their attitudes and think outside the square.
This was the message from Ivan Neville who spoke about recruitment challenges at the South East Business Networks (SEBN) breakfast on 27 March.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) labour analyst also participated in a questions and solutions panel alongside Anita Francis from the Department of Human Services (DHS), Todd Hartley from Hilton Manufacturing and Terry Breheny from Link Employment and Training.
To finish, all attendees got out butcher’s paper and textas to brainstorm solutions to recruitment scenarios.
SEBN manager Sandra George said the morning aimed to find a better match between what employers wanted and the available workforce.
The South East Melbourne priority employment area (PSE) is one of 21 regions recognised as vulnerable to slow-downs in the economy.
Mr Neville said a recent survey of local employers showed they needed to change their expectations, particularly around experience.
“Employers need to understand the labour supply in this area and manage expectations,” he said.
“We’re ruling out people who actually might have what it takes.”
He said employability skills were vital and training and experience could follow. More work experience would improve young people’s employability skills, he said.
Mr Neville also urged employers to look beyond traditional sources of labour, to the ageing workforce in particular, and improve workplace flexibility through part-time positions and phased retirement.
He said better utilising the migrant population would also reduce unemployment.
More than 26,500 migrants have moved into the region over the past five years.
About 25 per cent of these migrants of working age from “other than majority English speaking countries” have a degree.
“We are not taking advantage of their skills,” he said.
“These people are occupying jobs that could be filled by people who don’t have their skills or qualifications.”
