The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has moved to recognise the skills of Australia’s truck drivers in its new classification of occupations by listing the occupation as a level four skill.
The new classification released by the ABS assigns occupations to five skill levels, ranging from level one requiring a tertiary qualification to level four, which requires people to have finished school to enter the profession.
Truck driving is now classed as a level four skill, which means it requires a Certificate II or III or to have a year of experience.
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The classification also added the new occupation of articulated truck driver as a level three skill, meaning it’s the same as a trade qualified electrician or plumber. Tanker truck drivers have also been recognised as a level three skill.
The decision to include these truck driver professions on the latest classification follows lobbying and submissions from the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and its members.
In October, Jobs and Skills Australia reported truck driving as one of the top five occupations in shortage. However, truck driving isn’t on the federal government’s new core skilled occupation list for immigration that was released separately this month.
ATA CEO Mathew Munro is urging the government to reconsider its decision to leave truck drivers off the list.
“Our industry has always maintained that articulated truck driving is a skilled trade. The ABS’s decision has confirmed that view,” Munro says.
“In light of this decision, the government must now go back and address this glaring omission on the core skilled occupation list.
“Australia’s truck drivers deliver every item on the shelves of every supermarket, and we have a serious driver shortage right now. We simply cannot wait until the next scheduled revision of the list.
“Having said that, the ATA welcomes the inclusion of truck workshop staff like diesel mechanics and vehicle body builders in the list.”
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