Onshore Skilled Migrant Engineers: Skills Wastage and Atrophy

This article reports the survey findings from a research project exploring the \nuse of skilled migration as a strategy for assisting in overcoming the pressing \nrisks facing the Australian rail industry in workforce development. These risks \nare associated with an ageing workforce and skill shortages in engineering and \ntechnical areas. The data presented originate from a survey of skilled migrants in \nan employment program for skilled migrants in the Sydney metropolitan area \nand skilled migrant engineers in Victoria. The findings point to the potential, \nand yet untapped source of highly qualified professionals who could be targeted \nfor recruitment by the rail industry. Of greater significance are the broader \nimplications of the research in terms of engineering skills wastage and atrophy \nin a time when Australia cannot produce enough engineering professionals \ndomestically to meet the demand. This is all set against a backdrop of global \nengineering shortages and fierce domestic competition for engineering skills \nmade even more prominent with the second wave of the resources boom.