The Australian Steel Institute undertook a survey of its members in July this year to determine business conditions and outlook following six months of the WA Jobs from WA Resources campaign.

Key findings included:

• 88 per cent of businesses reported a negative or very negative impact on their business from the offshoring of skilled work by the big resources companies.
• 77 per cent said the offshoring of skilled work was a significant or very significant problem.
• Employment levels remain 20 per cent below 2007/08 levels.
• Apprenticeships and trainee positions remain 67 per cent below 2007/08 levels.
• 58 per cent of businesses don’t plan to increase employment or apprenticeships over the next 12 months, or reduce them further, with 41 per cent planning on adding positions.  No businesses plan to significantly increase their number of positions.
• 100 per cent of businesses want stronger State Government action to ensure more skilled work is performed locally for WA’s major resources projects.
• 77 per cent of businesses want the State Government to support Labor’s Skilled Local Jobs Bill, which is currently before Parliament.