Recruitment specialist Hays has released the first Quarterly Report into skills demand for 2013, concluding that demand for energy professionals is continuing to grow, bolstered by major mining and resources project in Western Australia and Queensland.

Specifically, Queensland is experiencing a significant growth in demand for linesmen and distribution team leaders and managers as the state undergoes significant upgrade works of electricity assets.

Protection technicians, engineers and primary design engineers are in hot demand due to the construction of maintenance of mining and HV transmission lines.

While in Western Australia, project managers with commercial and financial knowledge are in demand, while shortages of protection engineers and technicians driving a spike in demand for their particular skills.

Due to the amount of network upgrades and construction of new distribution and transmission lines compared to the amount of qualified Linesworkers there is a shortage for these throughout Australia, especially in Western Australia where there is major maintenance and construction projects for Glove and Barrier Linesworkers.

there are not many Cable Jointers that have Western Power (WA Network) experience and tickets to meet the demand. Projects including moving overhead power to underground requires Cable Jointers (mainly in the North West) which also increases the shortage.