8167.0 - Selected Characteristics of Australian Business, 2011-12 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/09/2013   
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SKILLS


SKILLS USED IN UNDERTAKING CORE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

All businesses were asked to identify the types of skills used in undertaking core business activities during the year ended 30 June 2012. The list of skills was limited to those shown in the table and businesses were not required to list any other skills. Businesses were able to report more than one type of skill and were not asked to rank skills in order of importance.

Skills used in undertaking core business activities, by employment size(a)(b)(c), 2011-12
0-4 persons
5-19 persons
20-199 persons
200 or more persons
Total
%
%
%
%
%
Engineering
11.8
12.2
19.1
34.2
12.6
Scientific and research
4.9
4.7
7.7
16.9
5.1
IT professionals
11.5
17.1
24.8
55.2
14.4
IT support technicians
15.8
28.6
43.8
66.1
22.1
Trades
26.7
28.6
33.7
35.4
27.9
Transport, plant and machinery operation
15.6
19.0
26.8
37.2
17.6
Marketing
17.2
23.8
34.5
55.6
20.8
Project management
12.4
12.3
22.9
56.5
13.5
Business management
17.7
25.4
38.1
59.3
21.8
Financial
21.4
30.0
46.8
68.9
26.2
(a) Proportions are of all businesses in each output category.
(b) Businesses could identify more than one type of skill used.
(c) Skills not listed were not required to be reported on.


Overall, businesses were most likely to report the use of trades skills in undertaking core business activities (28%).

Over a quarter of businesses with 0-4 persons employed reported the use of trades skills in undertaking core business activities. All other employment size ranges most commonly reported the use of financial skills in undertaking core business activities. Across all employment sizes, the least frequently reported skills used in undertaking core business activities were scientific and research (5%).

By industry, the types of skills used varied depending on the nature of the work undertaken. Engineering and scientific and research skills were most likely to be used by the Mining industry (40% and 24% respectively). Conversely, skills associated with IT professionals and IT support technicians were most commonly reported by businesses in Information media and telecommunications (40% and 38% respectively).

Innovation-active businesses were three times more likely to use marketing skills in undertaking core business activities (33%) than non innovation-active businesses (10%). They were also three times as likely to report the use of skills associated with IT professionals (23% and 7% respectively).

Further data 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 skills needed to undertake core business activities during the year ended 30 June 2012. Businesses were asked to identify all skills 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 report for 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), 2011-12
0-4 persons
5-19 persons
20-199 persons
200 or more persons
Total
%
%
%
%
%
Types of skill shortage or deficiency
Engineering
1.1
1.5
3.8
6.5
1.5
Scientific and research
0.6
1.4
0.7
1.3
0.8
IT professionals
2.0
2.4
3.4
3.9
2.2
IT support technicians
3.0
3.5
3.3
3.1
3.2
Trades
6.4
10.2
13.4
8.6
8.1
Transport, plant and machinery operation
1.7
2.8
5.3
6.0
2.3
Marketing
3.7
3.9
5.7
3.7
4.0
Project management
1.3
1.0
3.5
4.0
1.4
Business management
2.6
3.7
3.4
4.8
3.0
Financial
4.9
3.7
3.7
2.9
4.4
(a) Proportions are of all businesses in each output category.
(b) Businesses could identify more than one type of skill shortage or deficiency.
(c) Only the skills listed were required to be reported on.


The most commonly reported types of skills shortage or deficiency in undertaking core business activities were trades (8%). Shortage or deficiency in trades skills had the largest percentage point variation between employment size ranges, from 6% for businesses with 0-4 persons employed to 13% for those with 20-199 persons employed.

The types of skills shortage or deficiency reported varied across industries. Businesses in Electricity, gas, water and waste services, followed by Mining, were most likely to report a shortage or deficiency in transport (12% and 11% respectively). Those in Other services were the most likely to report skills shortage or deficiency in trades (20%), followed by Construction and Manufacturing (both 17%).

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