Thirteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Up until a few years ago, unprecedented international demand for iron ore resulted in a national skill shortage crisis in Australia that lasted for over a decade. As a result, the Australian Government and businesses implemented strategies to meet the demand for labour, including employee incentives, increasing the mature-aged workforce, and the highly controversial strategy of increasing migrant workers. This paper addresses these national issues played out in an Australian mining community. Situated in a community psychology paradigm, eighty-nine semi-structured qualitative interviews and twenty-two online surveys with key stakeholders were analysed through the analytical ecological framework of causal layered analysis. This process revealed a theme of blame and a lack of accountability among stakeholders; highlighting the beliefs, behaviours and policies compounding the skills shortage. In particularly, it highlighted issues around the lack of education and training provided to resolve the skill shortage crisis. A critical reflection on the issue suggests a lack of awareness of the social and relational capital between employers, migrant workers, and stakeholders.