Despite more than 60 per cent of Australia’s engineering workforce being born overseas, nearly half of overseas-qualified engineers remain unemployed.
To address this issue, Engineering Australia and Consult Australia have released a business guide to help local businesses tap into the wealth of skills offered by overseas-qualified engineers.
Entitled Improving Access to Global Engineering Skills, the guide highlights the importance of embracing global engineering talent.
With engineering skills in high demand across all disciplines, the guide offers businesses actionable insights to bridge the skills gap, recruit global talent and build a more resilient workforce.
Engineers Australia acting chief engineer Bernadette Foley said its important to recognise the value that overseas-qualified engineers bring, providing fresh ideas and expertise.
“We need to broaden our perspective; this approach will help build a more resilient and sustainable future for Australians,” Foley said.
According to the 2024 Infrastructure Australia Market Capacity Report, the shortage of engineering skills remains acute, 25,000 engineers were expected to retire between 2021 and 2026. Given the time it takes to train an engineer to practice independently - approximately a decade - businesses need immediate solutions.
Consult Australia’s national policy manager Kristine Banks said addressing this challenge requires a range of solutions, and this guide offers a practical pathway to accessing global talent.
“The guide steps through the business process for hiring overseas-qualified engineers, from understanding qualification frameworks to navigating visa requirements. It’s a roadmap to help businesses of all sizes to recruit, integrate and retain international talent," Banks said.
In addition to case studies, the business guide includes myth-busting facts about overseas qualifications and how to navigate Australia’s engineering standards and qualification recognition frameworks.