8167.0 - Selected Characteristics of Australian Business, 2014-15  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/08/2016   
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SKILLS


Skills used in undertaking core business activities

All businesses were asked to indicate the types of skills used in undertaking core business activities during the year ended 30 June 2015. The list of skills was limited to those shown in the table; businesses were not required to list any other skills which they may have used. Businesses were able to identify more than one type of skill and a ranking of importance was not required.

Skills used in undertaking core business activities, by employment size(a)(b)(c), 2014-15
0-4 persons
5-19 persons
20-199 persons
200 or more persons
Total
%
%
%
%
%
Engineering
12.9
15.3
16.5
29.3
14.0
Scientific and research
5.6
4.3
5.7
13.8
5.2
IT professionals
12.9
17.6
24.9
53.7
15.5
IT technical support
17.1
26.3
38.0
59.4
21.8
Trades
25.9
31.7
31.8
35.9
28.3
Transport, plant and machinery operation
13.6
19.7
21.9
36.3
16.3
Marketing
17.1
25.4
34.3
54.2
21.2
Project management
10.7
14.3
22.0
52.0
12.9
Business management
15.9
25.1
37.0
61.3
20.7
Financial
21.1
30.4
44.4
67.7
26.0
(a) Proportions are of all businesses in each output category.
(b) Businesses could identify more than one type of skill used.
(c) Only the skills listed were required to be reported on.


Overall, trades skills (28%) were the most commonly used by businesses in undertaking core business activities. The least common type of skill used by businesses in undertaking core business activities was scientific and research (5%).

The most common skill used to undertake core business activities for businesses with 20-199 persons employed and 200 or more persons employed were financial skills (44% and 68% respectively). For businesses with 0-4 persons and 5-19 persons employed, trades skills were the most commonly reported (26% and 32% respectively).

The types of skills used varied by industry depending on the nature of the work undertaken. The Mining industry had the highest proportion of businesses reporting skills in engineering (43%), scientific and research (24%), project management (35%) and business management (36%). Skills associated with IT professionals were most commonly used by businesses in the Information media and telecommunications industry (33%), while IT technical support skills were most commonly used in the Health care and social assistance industry (36%).

Further statistics relating to skills used in undertaking core business activities can be accessed via the Downloads tab.


Skills shortage or deficiency in undertaking core business activities

All businesses were asked if there was a shortage or deficiency in types of skills needed to undertake core business activities during the year ended 30 June 2015. Businesses were asked to indicate all skill shortages or deficiencies irrespective of whether they had been able to address the shortage or deficiency. The list of skills was limited to those shown in the table; businesses were not required to list any other skills for which there may have been a shortage or deficiency. Businesses were able to identify more than one type of skill and were not required to rank the skills.

Skills shortage or deficiency in undertaking core business activities, by employment size(a)(b)(c), 2014-15
0-4 persons
5-19 persons
20-199 persons
200 or more persons
Total
%
%
%
%
%
Engineering
2.0
1.4
2.6
2.8
1.9
Scientific and research
0.8
0.8
1.3
1.7
0.8
IT professionals
2.2
3.0
4.5
4.9
2.6
IT technical support
2.7
3.4
3.3
4.1
3.0
Trades
7.8
11.6
13.3
5.0
9.4
Transport, plant and machinery operation
1.6
3.6
3.1
6.1
2.4
Marketing
4.2
6.5
5.2
3.8
5.0
Project management
0.8
2.1
4.3
4.2
1.5
Business management
2.7
3.5
4.5
3.2
3.1
Financial
4.2
5.2
5.5
3.3
4.6
(a) Proportions are of all businesses in each output category.
(b) Businesses could identify more than one type of skills shortage or deficiency.
(c) Only the skills listed were required to be reported on.


The most common type of skill shortage or deficiency in undertaking core business activities was trades skills (9%). Businesses that reported a shortage or deficiency in these skills were highest among those with 20-199 persons employed (13%).

The Construction industry had the highest proportion of businesses that reported a shortage or deficiency in trades skills (26%), followed by businesses in the Manufacturing industry (15%).

Further statistics relating to skills shortage or deficiency in undertaking core business activities can be accessed via the Downloads tab.