Skill shortages: prevalence, causes, remedies and consequences for Australian businesses

Despite the attention paid to skill shortages, the evidence used to evaluate their incidence and the causes and responses by firms remains thin. This report aims to improve understanding of the causes of skill shortages, the way businesses respond and the short-term consequences of skill shortages. Responses from small- and medium-sized businesses reveal that skill shortages matter, but that their relationship to firm performance differs according to the nature of the skill shortage. The findings confirm that skill shortages are a complex labour market phenomenon and give rise to complex...  [+] Show more

Despite the attention paid to skill shortages, the evidence used to evaluate their incidence and the causes and responses by firms remains thin. This report aims to improve understanding of the causes of skill shortages, the way businesses respond and the short-term consequences of skill shortages. Responses from small- and medium-sized businesses reveal that skill shortages matter, but that their relationship to firm performance differs according to the nature of the skill shortage. The findings confirm that skill shortages are a complex labour market phenomenon and give rise to complex responses by firms.