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The ManpowerGroup's seventh annual talent shortage survey, released today, found that while the results were down from last years, with 54% of Australian employers admitting they were having trouble filling roles, the results are still above the global average of 34%.
Employers have the most difficulty finding skilled tradespeople, with engineers following closely behind in second spot while sales representatives placed high on the list in third spot.
Management and executive roles took sixth spot while technicians, drivers and mechanics came in at seventh, eighth and ninth respectively.
ManpowerGroup Australia and New Zealand managing director Lincoln Crawley said the lack of people with skills in important trades was not only worrying but was an ongoing issue for Australia.
"We are in a resources boom that is going to last for decades and unless we boost apprentice completion rates there will be a severe shortfall of skilled trade workers," Crawley said.
Promoting a more positive image for skilled trades and vocational education as a career path was a plausible solution to help alleviate the skills crisis.
"Young people need to understand the high demand that exists, and the competitive salaries they can command once they're qualified," Crawley said.
"Fair Work Australia is considering lifting wage rates for apprentices, and this is helpful as long as we get the balance right, and employers can still afford to hire and train apprentices."
Career Industry Council of Australia executive director Peter Tatham said more needed to be done to fill the skills gap.
"To address skills shortages over the next decade we need to endure that young people in school, university and vocational training have access to high-quality, well-resources career services to increase their awareness of opportunities and to develop the skills to access them."
"Unfortunately, we are heading in the opposite direction."
Globally, employers having the most difficulty finding the right people to fill jobs are those in Japan, followed by Brazil then Bulgaria.
