“Tonight’s Federal Budget needs to include options to resolve the looming skills shortage across Australia’s electrical industry,” says chief executive officer of the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) Suresh Manickam.

“We would like to see a greater focus on skills development in the trades – specifically with respect to how mature-age Australians could assist the economy.

A key challenge for our industry as we move towards the second half of the decade is responding to the shortage of skilled electrical workers. We also need to address the imminent retirement of long-term and highly-skilled workers which is also contributing to a loss of suitably qualified electricians in our sector.

In addition to a focus on mature age apprenticeships, NECA calls for an increase in the female and indigenous apprenticeship commencements.  We need to see strategies to accommodate the need for people to up-skill and cross-skill towards the electrical trade.  We look to government to proactively introduce progressive and productive policy in this regard.” Mr Manickam concluded.