The Australian manufacturing sector is at a crossroads between keeping up with automation and technological evolution and the pressing issue of attracting and retaining a skilled workforce.
As Australia’s seasoned professionals begin to retire and younger generations seek different career paths, workforce compliance automation platform WorkPro has revealed a potential answer to Australia’s existing labour shortage.
In a whitepaper that features data from a survey of over 2,400 job-seekers, prioritising transferable skills has emerged as a unique solution that will help manufacturers bridge the talent gap in the industry.
The talent crunch
According to WorkPro’s survey, manufacturing is one of the industries most aggressively hiring full-time employees, further emphasising the impact of the skills shortage in the sector.
In an exclusive interview with Australian Manufacturing, WorkPro founder and CEO Tania Evans said this indicates a potential advantage for the sector in integrating transferable skills into their hiring processes, which could be particularly beneficial in addressing the prevailing skills shortage.
The whitepaper, titled “It’s Not Me, It’s You,” revealed a fundamental shift from traditional, sector-specific employment to roles in new industries, driven by the value of transferable skills. Particularly, 60.7 per cent of survey participants have secured positions in different sectors using adaptable skills.
Gone are the days when recruiters look at academic qualifications or extensive industry experience in certain industries as the sole determinants of a candidate’s suitability for a role.
According to Evans, the industry must shift towards a new paradigm that places competencies and skills at the forefront of the hiring process.
“Our research highlights that a significant 81.5% of applicants had the opportunity to showcase their skills during the application process. This practical demonstration is crucial in assessing candidates’ fit for a role based on their actual capabilities, moving beyond a mere summary of their past positions.”
Unlocking potential
As the industrial sector transforms, the demand for adaptable talents has skyrocketed, further emphasising the need for organisations to effectively assess and integrate adaptable skills into their hiring processes.
Evans said employers must start by valuing individuals for their diverse skill sets rather than just their current job titles.
“Identify the skills necessary for various roles and evaluate these during the hiring process. Implement early skills assessment in the screening phase, using tech tools to include potential candidates rather than exclude them.”
She also highlighted the need to train hiring managers to spot transferable skills to achieve effective recruitment. “The best way to assess a candidate’s fit is through real-life problem-solving scenarios. Provide candidates with situations they may face in the role, allowing recruiters to assess the practical application of their transferable skills,” the CEO added.
Adapting recruitment and onboarding processes is a crucial element in securing and retaining the best talent in the manufacturing industry. By investing in the development of their existing talent pool, organisations can equip their workforce with the needed skills to address current and future challenges and cultivate a business environment with resilience and agility at its core.
For more information about revolutionising the hiring process in the manufacturing industry and to access the whitepaper, visit workpro.com.au.
