ANZSCO 3212-11,12,13Queensland

Motor MechanicsDecember 2017

Labour Economics Office Queensland

Department of Jobs and Small Business

Current labour market rating3212-11 Motor Mechanic (General) – Metropolitan Shortage

3212-12 Diesel Motor Mechanic – Shortage

3212-13 Motorcycle Mechanic – Cannot Rate

Previous labour market rating (2016)3212-11 Motor Mechanic (General) – Regional Shortage

3212-12 Diesel Motor Mechanic – No Shortage

3212-13 Motorcycle Mechanic – Shortage

Comments

Shortages for general motor mechanics are evident in metropolitan Queensland with half the vacancies surveyed remaining unfilled. Employers across the state are experiencing a shortage of diesel motor mechanics with less than a third of vacancies being filled.There were insufficient motorcycle mechanic employers surveyed to enable determination of a rating.

Survey results[1]

Overall, 50 per cent of all vacancies for mechanics were filled within four weeks of advertising, compared with 58 per cent last year.

  • There were 8.8 applicants per vacancy, on average, compared with 11.3 applicants per vacancy in 2016.
  • Metropolitan employers averaged 10.5 applicants per vacancy compared with 11.4 in 2016. In regional areas there was an average of 5.2 applicants per vacancy, less than half the number reported in 2016 (11.5).
  • The number of qualified applicants per vacancy also decreased in 2017. Metropolitan vacancies averaged 3.7 qualified applicants compared with 4.3 in 2016. Regional vacancies attracted an average of 3.0 qualified applicants per vacancy compared with 6.6in the previous year.[2]
  • On average, there was one suitable applicant per vacancy. This was the lowest number of suitable applicants per vacancy recorded since 2011.
  • In this year’s survey, 63 per cent of vacancies for motor mechanics (general) were filled across the state; 18 per cent of metropolitan vacancies were filled compared with 75 per cent of regional vacancies.
  • Although regional areas averaged less qualified applicants per vacancy than metropolitan areas, a higher proportion were considered to be suitable. Around 72 percent of the qualified applicants in metropolitan areas were unsuitable compared with 56 per cent inregional areas.
  • The majority of employers with vacancies for diesel mechanics reported difficulties filling their positions, with only 30 per cent being filled.
  • There were similar numbers of applicants per diesel mechanic vacancy in metropolitan (4.0) and regional areas (4.3). This was a substantial decrease from last year’s metropolitan (20.3) and regional (10.0) figures.
  • Metropolitan employers reported 3.2 qualified applicants per vacancy compared with2.0 per vacancy for regional areas.
  • On average, there was less than one suitable applicant per vacancy.
  • There were insufficient numbers of vacancies sourced during this year’s survey to determine an individual rating for motorcycle mechanics. Comments from the small number of employers surveyed indicated it is very difficult finding suitable applicants that have the ability to perform the tasks required to a satisfactory standard. All employers contacted attributed the lack of skilled motorcycle mechanics to inadequate training standards for apprentices and across the industry generally.

Unsuitable applicants

  • Around 73 per cent of all qualified applicants were considered unsuitable.
  • Employers surveyed reported that applicants often lacked experience with a particular type of vehicle or the aptitude to work across several different makes and models.
  • Many applicants lacked the proficiency to work with the new technology in the automotive industry and didn’t demonstrate the desire to further educate themselves on the evolving industry.
  • A number of applicants were considered unsuitable for reasons other than their mechanical capabilities. Some demonstrated poor interpersonal or communication skills and others had unstable work histories.
  • Some employers did not consider certain applicants due to their residential arrangements being too distant from the workplace.
  • Most commonly with the diesel mechanics, there were remuneration disparities between the employer and applicants. A considerable amount of applicants had returned from employment in the mining sector and had an unrealistic expectation of wages.Many also were in search of contract work instead of full-time employment.

Demand and supply trends

  • Demand for motor mechanics is closely linked to the number of vehicles on the road and the number of motor vehicle accidents.
  • The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads reported that there were 5,147,380 motor vehicles registered in Queensland as at 30 June 2017, an increase of almost 2.8 per cent over the previous year.[3]
  • In the year to December 2017 new car sales in Queensland increased by 3.2 per cent.[4]
  • Entry to the trade is usually through an apprenticeship.
  • Figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) show the number of apprenticeship commencements for motor mechanics has increased by around 2.14 per cent in the year to June 2017.[5]
  • However, the number of apprenticeship completions in the year to June 2017 decreased by around 12.4 per cent.[6]
  • Figures from the Department of Home Affairs show that temporary skilled migration increased by around 18 per cent in 2016-2017. Despite this increase, the number of subclass 457 visas granted in 2016-2017 was less than a third of the visas granted in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.[7]
  • The number of employed motor mechanics in Queensland has increased by nearly 20 per cent compared with last year. [8]

Labour Economics Office Queensland

Department of Jobs and Small Business

[1] The methodology underpinning this research is outlined at Skill Shortage Research Methodology | Department of Jobs and Small Business- Document library, Australian Governmentand can also be accessed by the QR code.

[2] There is a break in the time series of the average number of qualified applicants per vacancy at July 2017 due to a

change in the methodology.

[3] Registration Statistics, Department of Transport and Main Roads, June 2017

[4] ABS 9314.0 – Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia, December 2017, trend

[5]National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Apprentices and Trainees, June 2017, occupation 3212 Motor Mechanics, excluding 321214 Small Engine Mechanic (limited to Certificate III)

[6]Ibid

[7]Department of Home Affairs, BP0014 Temporary Work (skilled) visas granted 30 September 2017

[8] ABS, Labour Force, November 2017, Department of Jobs and Small Business trend