REOS spotlight: Unrealised vacancies. Are some employers discouraged from recruiting?

Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey (REOS) spotlight sheds light on employers’ unrealised vacancies. Unrealised vacancies are jobs that employers were not actively trying to fill at the time of being surveyed.

Around one in 10 employers reported having unrealised vacancies. Many of these had given up or were discouraged from recruiting due to a variety of reasons, like lack of suitable applicants available or a perception that in today’s tight labour market, it would be too hard to find the right person for the job.

Employers in the Manufacturing and Construction industries were most likely to have unrealised vacancies. Overall, more than 60% of employers with unrealised vacancies had positions for Skill Level 3 and 4 occupations, with Technicians and Trades Workers occupations specifically making up the largest proportion (34%). A good pipeline of people with the right skills may play an important role in increasing employers’ confidence to go to the market and advertise for these types of positions.

Find out more in the REOS Spotlight: Unrealised vacancies. Are some employers discouraged from recruiting?