Minding the gaps: Examining skill shortages in Australian rural non-agricultural workplaces

Abstract

This article examines skills shortage in rural Australian mining and food and beverage processing industries by analyzing the concept of skill and differentiating between gaps in skills and skill shortages. Drawing on Acker's sociological concept of inequality regimes, we analyze workforce profiles informed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics data, and qualitative interview data with human resource personnel. Emphasis is given to gender and Indigeneity, and the recruitment and retention practices by place and organization. We argue that the term ‘skill shortage’ is contentious as current workforce profiles are narrow and thereby exclude segments of the rural labor market. We also argue that underlying assumptions about gender and race in organizations need to be addressed for rural-based organizations to more fully utilize the available workforce.