About the study
What do Australians think is the most effective way to solve the country’s skills shortage? Immigration to Australia commissioned a survey of an independent, nationally representative panel of 1012 Australians to find out what they think is the most effective way to solve the current skills shortage. Respondents could select more than one response from the list below:
- Bring in higher numbers of skilled migrants.
- A greater number of fast, accredited courses recognised by industries. most impacted by the skills shortage.
- Cheaper/free TAFE or university courses.
- Introduce programs where students must work while studying.
- Lower the age at which teenagers are allowed to work.
- Increase the retirement age (and access to super or pension).
- Tax or wage incentives by Government for more people (such as new mums, and young adults living at home) to enter the workforce.
- Tax or wage incentives for the underemployed (those who aren’t working enough hours in a part-time or casual job) to get a second job
- More AI and technologies to replace people (eg: customer service).
- Companies outsourcing work to offshore teams.
- Government incentives, such as tax breaks, to companies to hire and train apprentices and interns.
- The Government expanding visa programs and opportunities for foreign students to study and work in Australia after graduation.
- Partnerships between industries and educational institutions to ensure that training programs are aligned with industry needs.
- Recognition of more overseas qualifications.
The survey also sought to discover which of the above Australians think is the single fastest way to solve the skills shortage.
The survey respondents matched the geographical and population spread of the Australian population.
How can Australia solve the skills shortage over the long term?
Immigration to Australia found more than half (54%) of respondents believe that cheaper or free TAFE or university courses will assist in solving the skills shortage over the long term. This was followed by:
- Government incentives, such as tax breaks, for companies who hire and train apprentices and interns (50%)
- Partnerships between industries and educational institutions to ensure that training programs are aligned with industry needs (46%).
Other preferences included:
- Tax or wage incentives for more people to enter the workforce (41%)
- A greater number of fast, accredited courses that are recognised by industries most impacted by the skills shortage (37%)
- Tax or wage incentives for the underemployed to get a second job (36%)
- Recognition of more overseas qualifications (35%)
- Higher number of skilled migrants (31%)
By age.
Immigration to Australia analysed responses by age. Respondents aged 18-34 are most likely to believe that cheaper or free TAFE or university courses will help solve the skills shortage in the long term (chosen by 56% of that age group), followed by Government tax or wage incentives for the underemployed (44%), and incentives for companies to hire and train apprentices and interns (40%).
A sizable proportion of respondents aged 35-54 are also more likely to agree that there should be free or cheaper education, at 52 per cent. This was followed by 50 per cent of this age group that thinks incentives, such as tax breaks, for companies to hire and train apprentices and interns will also help.
Fifty-seven (57) per cent of over-55s believe that offering government incentives, such as tax breaks, to companies to hire and train apprentices and interns is one of the best ways to solve the skills shortage in the long term.
By State.
When Immigration to Australia analysed responses across the major states, it found that 54 per cent of West Australians think partnerships between industries and educational institutions will help solve the skills shortage. This compares with 42 per cent of NSW and Victorian respondents who chose the same solution.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of South Australians believe government incentives, such as tax breaks, for companies that hire and train apprentices and interns is an effective solution. This compares with only 47 per cent of NSW and 43 per cent of Victorian respondents.
Almost half (46%) of West Australian respondents believe one of the ways to solve the skills shortage effectively is to recognise more overseas qualifications. This compares with 32 per cent of Victorian and 31 per cent of NSW respondents.
When comparing the five major states, Western Australia has the highest proportion (47%) of respondents that think government incentives for people to enter the workforce will work. In comparison, only 38 per cent of Queenslanders and 25 per cent of South Australians agree.
When Immigration to Australia analysed responses across the major states, it found that 54 per cent of West Australians think partnerships between industries and educational institutions will help solve the skills shortage. This compares with 42 per cent of NSW and Victorian respondents who chose the same solution. Almost two-thirds (63%) of South Australians believe government incentives, such as tax breaks, for companies that hire and train apprentices and interns is an effective solution. This compares with only 47 per cent of NSW and 43 per cent of Victorian respondents. Almost half (46%) of West Australian respondents believe one of the ways to solve the skills shortage effectively is to recognise more overseas qualifications. This compares with 32 per cent of Victorian and 31 per cent of NSW respondents. When comparing the five major states, Western Australia has the highest proportion (47%) of respondents that think government incentives for people to enter the workforce will work. In comparison, only 38 per cent of Queenslanders and 25 per cent of South Australians agree.
| Responses | State (%) | ||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Higher numbers of skilled migrants | 31% | 28% | 30% | 35% | 30% |
| More fast accredited course | 35% | 35% | 35% | 44% | 42% |
| Cheaper or free TAFE or university courses | 52% | 56% | 54% | 47% | 53% |
| Programs where students must work while studying | 24% | 21% | 25% | 17% | 21% |
| Lowering the age that teenagers are allowed to work | 12% | 12% | 9% | 6% | 11% |
| Increasing the retirement age | 13% | 11% | 13% | 15% | 16% |
| The Government providing tax or wage incentives | 41% | 44% | 38% | 25% | 47% |
| Providing tax or wage incentives for the underemployed to get a second job. | 33% | 34% | 36% | 43% | 40% |
| More artificial intelligence and technology to replace human resources | 13% | 10% | 8% | 10% | 10% |
| Companies outsourcing work to offshore teams | 9% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 12% |
| Government incentives, such as tax breaks, to companies to hire and train apprentices and interns | 47% | 43% | 55% | 63% | 62% |
| The Government expanding visa programs and opportunities | 30% | 24% | 30% | 35% | 41% |
| Partnerships between industries and educational institutions | 42% | 42% | 48% | 53% | 54% |
| Recognition of more overseas qualifications. | 31% | 32% | 36% | 40% | 46% |
What do Australians believe is the single fastest way to solve our skills shortage?
When asked which of the listed solutions would solve the skills shortage in the fastest way, Immigration to Australia found the highest proportion of respondents (22%) think it would be free education, followed by Australia increasing its intake of skilled migrants (12%) and government incentives for companies that hire and train apprentices and interns (11%).
By age.
Cheaper or free TAFE or University courses was unanimously thought to be the fastest way to solve the skills shortage across all age groups. This was most chosen by a third (33%) of 18-34-year-olds, who would also be the most likely to be currently enrolled in education courses. It was also selected by 21 per cent of 35–54-year-olds and 16 per cent of over-55s.
Sixteen (16) per cent of over-55s believe that the fastest way to solve the skills shortage is to increase the number of skilled migrants. This was followed by 10 per cent of 35-54 year olds and 9 per cent of 18-34 year olds.
A tenth (10%) of over-55s believe that launching a greater number of fast accredited courses that are recognised by industries most impacted by the skills shortage would be the fastest way to solve the skills shortage, followed by 9 per cent of 35-54 year-olds and 6 per cent of 18-34 year-olds.
By State.
Immigration to Australia found that one fifth (21%) of South Australian respondents believe the fastest way to solve the skills shortage would be to ensure partnerships between industries and educational institutions have training programs aligned with industry needs.
This compares with only:
- 9% of West Australians
- 9% of Queenslanders
- 8% of NSW respondents
- 6% of Victorians.
A quarter (26%) of Victorians agreed that cheaper or free education would be the fastest way to solve the skills shortage. This compares with 19 per cent of West Australians and 15 per cent of South Australians who chose the same solution.
When compared with other major states, West Australians are more likely to believe the fastest solution is for the Government to provide incentives such as tax breaks, for companies that hire and train apprentices and interns. This was recognised by 15 per cent of West Australians, 13 per cent of Queenslanders, 10 per cent of South Australians and Victorians, and nine per cent of NSW respondents.
Sixteen (16) per cent of Queenslanders believe a higher number of skilled migrants would be the fastest way to solve the skill shortages.
This was followed by:
- 12% of NSW respondents
- 11% of South Australians
- 10% of West Australians
- 8% of Victorians.
| Responses | State (%) | ||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Higher numbers of skilled migrants | 12% | 8% | 16% | 11% | 10% |
| Launching more fast accredited courses that are recognised by industries that are most impacted by the skills shortage | 8% | 7% | 10% | 10% | 13% |
| Cheaper or free TAFE or university courses | 23% | 26% | 20% | 15% | 19% |
| Programs where students must work while studying | 3% | 4% | 6% | 3% | 5% |
| Lowering the age that teenagers are allowed to work | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Increasing the retirement age | 4% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% |
| The Government providing tax or wage incentives for people to enter the workforce | 10% | 9% | 4% | 8% | 7% |
| Providing tax or wage incentives for the underemployed to get a second job. | 7% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 1% |
| Companies bringing in more artificial intelligence and technology to replace human resources | 3% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 4% |
| Government incentives, such as tax breaks, to companies to hire and train apprentices and interns | 9% | 10% | 13% | 10% | 15% |
| The Government expanding visa programs and opportunities for foreign students to study and work in Australia after graduation | 6% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 5% |
| Partnerships between industries and educational institutions to ensure that training programs are aligned with industry needs | 8% | 6% | 9% | 21% | 9% |
| Recognition of more overseas qualifications. | 7% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 11% |