A Methodology Paper - Regional and Industry Surveys of Employers' Recruitment Experiences
Purpose
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) undertakes research to establish and quantify the recruitment experiences of employers and occupations which are proving difficult to fill. This research is undertaken at a regional or industry level.
From these surveys we are able to identify occupations for which recruitment is difficult and other information, such as vacancy fill rates, methods of recruitment, reasons why applicants are deemed to be unsuitable for the position for which they applied, why positions are difficult to fill and their future recruitment expectations.
The aims of the surveys are to:
- Contribute to the department’s understanding of regional labour market issues
- Inform departmental strategies to improve employment programs and outcomes at a regional and industry level
- Complement Skills in Demand research undertaken at the state and national level
- Assist in the development of strategies by regional and industry stakeholders and workforce planning exercises
The findings from this research are incorporated in Better Connections Workshop presentations and distributed to key stakeholders within the department. These workshops bring together a range of local stakeholders including employment services providers, federal, state and local government agencies, and the local chamber of commerce to develop solutions to local employment issues. The objective of the workshops is to improve labour market effectiveness by addressing labour supply and skill shortage issues, increasing labour market participation and reducing unemployment.
Methodology
The number of employers contacted varies based on the region or industry being surveyed. Business contacts are bought through a list broker or obtained through industry bodies or other government departments. The regional surveys target the largest employing industries in the region and around 700 businesses are randomly selected and contacted. A letter is sent to selected businesses one week prior to surveying to advise them of the research being undertaken, outline what the research covers and why it will be of benefit and encourage their participation. Surveys are generally conducted over the phone. To minimise respondent burden regional surveys are limited to 5 minutes and industry specific surveys generally take 8-10 minutes as they are collecting more specific and wide ranging information.
Call centre staff undertaking this research are employees of DEEWR. A computer assisted telephone instrument (CATI) is used to collect the information. The analysis of the results is undertaken using Microsoft Excel and SAS Enterprise. Results are incorporated into BCW presentations and reports.
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