As every automotive business is currently experiencing, there is a persistent skills shortage in the industry. The “Directions in Australia’s Automotive Industry” report shows us that there is approximately a shortage of 2,049 and 435 automotive workers in SA and NT respectively. While the MTA is working through its training organisations to increase the number of young people to undertake a career in the automotive industry, there will need to be affordable and efficient skilled migration to fill those more experienced roles.

Last month, the Federal Government instituted a wholesale review into the skilled migration system in Australia. The feedback the MTA has received from members that have engaged the skilled migration system is that it is an inefficient and costly exercise, especially for small businesses. The large upfront costs and lack of certainty around whether the applicant would be accepted is a major barrier to accessing the program.

That is why the MTA provided a submission to review, participated in an industry roundtable with other associations and is a member of the independent review panel. This ensures that the voices of members are heard both formally and directly in face-to-face consultations. From initial discussions, the independent review panel acknowledges the inefficiencies in the system and is looking at updated funding models to alleviate the large upfront costs. When the independent review panel examines the submissions made to the migration review and publishes an interim report, the MTA will communicate these to members.

While this review is underway, the MTA is also working with other Motor Trade Association's in Australia to make changes to the skills assessment process for skilled migrants. This process would result in a simpler, cheaper and faster documentation-based assessment than the present technical and practical skills assessment. This is another process where the MTA is working towards alleviating the high upfront costs to attracting skilled migrants to Australia.

In conjunction with encouraging more young people to undertake apprenticeships, these needed reforms to the skilled migration system will help MTA members alleviate the persistent skills shortage that is impacting automotive businesses.