Engineering Recruitment, Engineers Recruitment, Engineering Employment, Engineering Professionals, Engineering Jobs, WA, Australia

DEEWR’s Internet Vacancy Index may have recorded a decrease in demand for engineers for November 2011, but the job outlook for 2012 remains upbeat.

John Masters, 20 December 2011

In talent torque’s end-of-year message for 2010 I highlighted encouraging signs for engineering employment prospects in the year ahead based on an upbeat Manpower Employment Outlook Survey report that saw Australian employers reporting healthy hiring intentions for the first Quarter of 2011.

Sure enough by mid 2011 demand for engineering skills had risen with most employers reporting ongoing recruiting difficulties particularly in respect of engineers with 14 to 17 years experience. This is not surprising given the figures released in May by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, citing the value of resources projects under development across the nation hit $173.5 billion in April 2011, a 31% rise from just six months earlier (at the time of writing the Minerals and energy, Major development projects – October 2011 listing has still not been published).

The job outlook for engineers in 2012 remains upbeat. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for the first quarter 2012 shows ongoing strength of hiring intentions in mining and construction sector, and WA employers forecast strong job growth in Quarter 1 2012. Nevertheless we have seen little or no relaxation in the tighter candidate assessment processes referred to in my 2010 end-of-year message. Companies are still paying attention to securing appropriately trained and experienced talent in the face of sustained high employment costs, and ongoing uncertainty over medium to long-term global economic conditions.

On behalf of the team at JSM Appointments I would like to thank our clients, candidates and subscribers of talent torque for their continued support during 2011. Wishing you and your families an enjoyable and safe December break. Please remember to send us your comments and contributions – we look forward to hearing from you in the New Year.

John Masters
Director, JSM Appointments