In May 2014, the Department of Education and Training published a list of the top 100 scarce skills, based on specific criteria. The document is sub-titled: Call for Comments on the National Scarce Skills List: Top 100 Occupations in Demand.
The purpose of the list is to inform, inter alia: human resource planning and development; resource allocation and prioritisation; the development of relevant qualifications, programmes and curricula; and international recruitment strategies.
This is step seven in a ten step plan to address the shortage of critical skills in the country.
Some of these come as no surprise. Six of the top ten listed occupations are in the engineering industry. Maths teachers, vets and medical doctors are among the other scarce skills.
What may come as a surprise (or maybe not?) is that a “Financial Investment Advisor” weighs in at number 86 on the list. I find it ironic that it shares this spot with a Local Authority Manager, which, as we all know, has become a rather scarce commodity. Perhaps we should add a little addendum there – it is not that there are few personnel in that position – it is rather that the competency of many is sadly lacking, as is evidenced by protests against poor delivery.
The publication of the list is an effort to take pre-emptive steps to address the shortfall. This should also act as a timely warning to product providers and regulators in the industry that the retention of professional financial advisors should take priority over the recruitment of new kids on the block.
Click here to download the list of threatened occupations. It is also a useful tool for people with kids who have to decide on a future career.
On a lighter, but equally true note, the Department of Internal affairs published a similar list for consideration when reviewing visa and permanent resident applications from foreigners. Financial Investment Advisors also feature on this list, as do sheep shearers.
