the skills shortage and protectionism

one of the areas which seems to attract attention is the myth of the skills shortage. If there was indeed any such thing it would not be difficult for an able bodied intelligent and educated person to find a job.

I wonder why it is then that so many are unemployed while at the same time industry cries that there are no skilled workers??

Well ... perhaps the problem is that all things conspire to create the problem.

Lets take for example the electrical industry. Here we have a nicely protected little enclave which requires that you start on the long and winding path as an apprentice. There are it seems few (if any) pathways for starting as an adult (say you wished to change careers?)

From this source:

Starting out as an apprentice electrician, after paying your rent and bills, you'll have enough money left over for a can of beans and a stick of gum. Well, perhaps we're exaggerating a little, but doing your time as an apprentice on low wages will actually put you in good stead later on in life.

How much does an apprentice electrician earn?

Electrician apprenticeships in Queensland work on the following pay scales (all figures are full time weekly rates before tax):

• 1st Year - $281.52
• 2nd Year - $387.04
• 3rd Year - $527.80
• 4th Year - $632.79

it might be ok for a younger kid still living with mum and dad, but at least the first two years is essentially so low as to make it more or less impossible for anyone like an adult (with kids) to go over that way. Then there is the issue of finding places which will take an apprentice...

Even if you wanted to get into the simple stuff like:

• attaching leads to stuff,
  
• fitting electrical plugs
• fitting electrical power points

you will need a restricted electrical license, which means you have to do a course like this one. Which of course requires you are either a trades person or already have a job doing that (which you could not get without having a license).

Ever read Catch 22? Milo Minderbinder could not have come up with better rules.

So it seems that with this sort of catch 22 "protecting the industry" rather than allow Australians who want to find work to train into that area we'd rather get "pre trained" people in from China to fill the jobs ... probably because they can be exploited better.

While it seems we need electrical workers (among others) the rules in place makes it difficult for anyone to get into the industry and seems to bias it to younger people only. I guess there is still an assumption that training is only for young people.

so what then is the purpose of adult education? go figga

Now I know that electricity is dangerous stuff, but really, how much training does it take to change a light plug?