15 February 2023 | MTA WA News
Ready for take-off | MTA WA leads skilled migration mission to UK and Ireland
Western Australia is currently facing a critical skills shortage and the impacts are being felt right across the automotive industry. In response to an estimated 3,500 vacancies in the automotive industry alone, the MTA WA is excited to announce the addition of recruitment support to its substantial list of member services. The driving force behind the strategic decision was direct industry consultation and is very positive news for members that are unable to fill vacancies due to skills shortages and other factors.
After months of intensive efforts, the Association will soon be undertaking its first major recruitment initiative – a trade mission in the hopes of attracting skilled automotive technicians and tradespeople from the UK and Ireland to fill 150 current vacancies identified by MTA WA members across the State. The jobs are currently listed on the newly developed www.autojobsaustralia.com website, wherein prospective candidates can browse available positions and lodge their expressions of interest today.
The MTA WA has formed a delegation with skilled migration agency Perdaman Global Services to execute the mission, which departs on 22 February. The State Government has recently rescheduled its own program to coincide with the MTA WA and will use the opportunity to boost tourism and promote skilled migration opportunities for public sector jobs. The groups will attend several events together across five cities, including exhibiting at the UK’s largest job fair in Bristol. The MTA WA will also pursue its own activity while abroad, hosting interactive information sessions for potential candidates in Edinburgh, Dublin and London, as well as staging a media event in Manchester.
To further amplify the success of this mission, the MTA WA has launched an advertising campaign across digital media channels in the UK and Ireland to target automotive professionals and job seekers. The ‘Say G’day to WA’ promotes WA is the ideal place to work and live in the trade, drawing attention to the ways in which automotive expats can enjoy the iconic West Aussie lifestyle both on and off the job.
PR activities have already commenced nationally, and an interview with MTA WA Group CEO Stephen Moir was featured last week on GoAuto News Premium.
Mr. Moir told GoAuto, that the bold initiative was born from the observation that some industries were remaining idle in addressing the skills shortage issue.
Mr Moir elaborated, “The MTA WA have received praise from both members and external sources, who have commended our association for our initiative and urgency. We are effectively leading the pack.”
The MTA WA looks forward to sharing more about the mission’s progress soon.
