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

John Masters, 15^th December 2009

Our first edition of talent torque was published in August at a time when the global recession and its potential impact on employment opportunities for the engineering team was a major concern. Economies worldwide slowed in late 2008 and early 2009 as credit tightened and international trade declined. In the article Engineers and the Recession, talent torque presented conflicting views on the employment outlook in general and for engineers in particular. 

Experts continue to unravel the potential long term effects of the world’s worst economic collapse since The Great Depression, yet Australia’s economy has remained remarkably resilient, avoiding a technical recession in 2009. In fact, as we approach 2010 the possibility of economic recovery in the short term has been reinforced by an unprecedented three consecutive rate rises by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

In Western Australia the signs are encouraging for the engineering team. The total capital expenditure on the REPS December 2009 Major Project list compiled by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, is already up considerably compared to its June 2009 list (to view the list please visit www.cciwa.com). In the shorter term the value of major resource and infrastructure projects either already underway or scheduled for commencement by the end of 2010 now exceeds $100 billion, thanks largely to the final approval of the Gorgon Gas project.

Even if a disappointingly large proportion of the high-end engineering work continues to go offshore (talent torque will revisit this issue in 2010) this rapidly growing pipeline of WA resource and infrastructure projects will draw heavily on Australia’s engineering professionals. There is plenty of scope in terms of project engineering, specialist maintenance as well as operational needs generated during EPC phases and the introduction of new high tech plants.

Evolving with the times

Supply and demand for engineering skills is not the only challenge: While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd may not be taking his carbon-trade scheme to Copenhagen, there is no doubt that we will witness the reshaping of our global economy and our energy sector as world leaders become more serious about tackling climate change. How will this affect the engineering skills profile needed to cope with emerging technologies in different industries? Will our tertiary education institutes and post graduate training programmes be able to adapt to the growing need for new engineering disciplines and fields of specialisation? Food for thought as talent torque reviews suitable topics for Issue 4 in early 2010!

On that note – we look forward to continuing with regular editions of talent torque in 2010 reporting on topical issues that can directly impact your engineering career or decisions that you make in relation to managing the talent you employ. JSM Appointments will be making an exciting announcement early next year, so keep an eye out for the January issue of talent torque. On behalf of the team at JSM Appointments I would like to thank those who contributed to the topics covered in talent torque this year and especially to Paula Beezhold for helping me to get this project underway.

A big thank you to our many clients and candidates who participated in our Engineering Recruitment questionnaire (see our HR article for part one of the two-part feature). Your detailed and candid answers made it possible for us to draw some accurate conclusions concerning the industry's experience in dealing with external recruitment suppliers. Although many of you preferred to remain anonymous we did reflect your input throughout the feature.

Finally to our readers and subscribers, thank you for your interest in talent torque and may you and your families enjoy a much-needed December break. Please remember to send us your comments and contributions – we look forward to hearing from you in the New Year.