Printing hit by drop in skilled vacancies

Skilled vacancies fell 0.1 per cent in May this year, with printing trades attracting the largest decline of 7.1 per cent.

The information released by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) showed that its skilled vacancies index in May was 95.7 points, 2.5 per cent less than in May 2007.

Across Australia, NSW recorded the greatest decline of 2.7 per cent, with Western Australia recording an increase, up by 1.4 per cent.

Hagop Tchamkertenian, national manager for policy and government affairs, Printing Industries, believes that these reports are not necessarily an accurate reflection of the employment in the printing industry.

"The tight labour market has meant that the normal means for attracting labour (such as advertising for skilled labour) is no longer as effective," he said.

"Printing companies have tried advertising for positions but have not had much success in filling the advertised positions. As a consequence, some have stopped advertising and instead have resorted to other methods such as recruiting and sponsoring skilled workers from overseas destinations."

Advertising is not an effective method of attracting skilled labour during periods of low unemployment, according to Hagop. "We are all aware that the printing industry suffers from an image problem based on erroneous perceptions that printing is an old and dirty industry," he said.

"Such unfounded perceptions result in skilled workers opting for non-printing-related jobs when the labour market is tight. Potential candidates have a greater 'choice' when the labour is tight and as a consequence respond in significantly less numbers to advertisements for printing related jobs during periods of low unemployment."