Strategies to Expand the Electrical Engineering Talent Pool

On December 11, 2023

To enable the energy transition to renewable sources, Australia needs a lot more Electrical Engineers and Electricians. The growth rate of the Electrical Engineers talent pool is only 0.4% in Australia, and demand for hiring electrical engineers is very high. This blog outlines key strategies to expand the electrical engineering talent pool and help bridge the critical workforce gap in the industry.s about the Electrical Engineering talent pool:

The median tenure is 1.7 years – the period of time an electrical engineer typically stays in the one job.
In the last year 1,605 Electrical Engineers changed jobs.
Only 15% of Electrical Engineers in Australia are women.

1. Training programs to upskill

Offering programs in your workplace that provide skill enhancement opportunities, such as workshops, certifications, and online courses, can attract professionals from related fields to transition into electrical engineering. This approach not only expands the talent pool but also brings diverse perspectives and experiences to your organisation.

Engineering Education Australia provides short courses, graduate programs and tools to assess workplace capability in engineering.

Careers for Net Zero helps individuals find the right professional development pathways and upskilling opportunities that will help find employment in Australia’s clean economy.

Explore our engineering recruitment services

2. Overseas talent and sponsorship

Sourcing talent to immigrate from overseas and getting your organisation set up as a sponsor is a great way to expand the talent pool. There are only 8,439 qualified electrical engineers currently on LinkedIn in Australia, but 616,018 qualified electrical engineers worldwide. Globally the largest talent pool of Electrical engineers is in the Middle East, followed by Asia, UK and USA. By hiring from overseas you can access a much larger pool of candidates willing to relocate to Australia.

If you’re considering electrical engineer visa sponsorship in Australia, learn more about how our team can help your business become sponsor-ready with our international talent sourcing solutions.

3. Attracting candidates from minority groups

Fostering diversity and inclusion within the electrical engineering community is essential for innovation and problem-solving. Attracting underrepresented groups, including women and minorities, to pursue careers in electrical engineering in Australia can significantly broaden the talent pool. Companies and institutions can actively support diversity initiatives through mentorship programs, scholarships, and outreach efforts.

We help employers create inclusive hiring pipelines. Discover our diversity recruitment strategies.

4. Pipelining proactively and market mapping

Partnering with a specialist recruiter for market mapping and proactive talent pipelining offers substantial benefits for business growth. This collaboration enables strategic workforce planning by comprehending the current talent landscape, identifying key players, skill demands, and potential hiring challenges. Proactive talent acquisition involves creating a pre-screened candidate pool, ensuring a quick response to critical vacancies, reducing time-to-fill, and maintaining operational continuity.

This approach provides a competitive edge in attracting and retaining top talent, fostering early engagement with candidates and building strong relationships. A proactive talent pipeline also facilitates seamless adaptation to business growth, allowing for quick scalability without compromising on hire quality.

The insights gained from market mapping further inform strategic decision-making, aligning talent acquisition strategies with overarching business objectives and fostering significant contributions to company growth.

Troy Recruitment helps organisations grow by sourcing niche talent in Engineering, Sustainability, Energy, ESG, Finance and Risk. We work with organisations providing market mapping and proactive talent pipelining services.