Earlier this year, Jeweller reported that Nationwide Jewellers, Showcase Jewellers, and the Independent Jewellers Collective have come together to address the shortage of apprentices in the local trade.
As explained, the industry is struggling to meet the increasing demand for custom-made jewellery because it has an ageing workforce and an inadequate number of apprentices.
After that story was published, Colin Pocklington (Nationwide Jewellers), Anthony Enriquez (Showcase Jewellers), and Joshua Zarb (Independent Jewellers Collective) attended a video meeting with representatives from Job and Skills Australia to discuss this issue.
Pocklington told Jeweller that emphasising the unique nature of Australia’s jewellery industry was critical to rectifying this issue.
“We were able to clearly express our concern about the industry’s growing demand for custom design work and the significant shortage of skilled jewellers to meet this demand,” Pocklington explained.
“Our grassroots knowledge of the industry’s challenges was acknowledged and valued.
“It was recognised that the unique structure of our industry — largely made up of small, independent businesses — has contributed to our skills shortage being underrepresented or ‘falling between the cracks’ in broader workforce assessments.”
What needs to change?
In particular, the three buying groups are seeking the addition of ‘jewellers’ to the Occupation Shortage List (OSL).
The OSL is a program organised by Jobs and Skills Australia, a statutory body that provides independent advice on future workforce, skills and training needs.
The platform lists two relevant occupations – Jewellery Designers and Jewellers – which were rated as ‘No Shortage’ from 2021 to 2024.
At the time, a spokesperson for Jobs and Skills Australia stated that while modelling may suggest difficulty in filling positions in occupations related to jewellery manufacturing, there is insufficient evidence of a national shortage.
During the meeting, the process for creating the Occupation Shortage List was explained to the representatives from the buying groups. Zarb said this was a helpful exercise.
“From our perspective, it was interesting to hear how this list is created, and I think it was clear that moving forward, the buying groups can provide some valuable input and information,” Zarb explained.
“With the number of retailers represented across the three groups, we can certainly provide information about the key areas of consideration.
“As we’ve said consistently, creating ways to address the skills shortage in the industry is a no-brainer that will benefit everybody. This isn’t about any one group, it’s about the future of the jewellery industry in Australia.”
Before the meeting, the buying groups conducted a member survey, and the results highlighted the need for additional support in the jewellery manufacturing sector.
More than 100 buying group members responded to the survey, and three-quarters (75 per cent) said they do not currently employ an apprentice.
Around 87 per cent of participants suggested that employing a new trade jeweller was ‘very difficult’ or ‘extremely difficult’. In comparison, 75 per cent of respondents find it ‘very difficult’ or ‘extremely difficult’ to employ a new apprentice.
One step at a time
The research also confirmed the increasing demand for custom-made jewellery and services such as repairs. Enriquez said he was confident that positive changes would follow this meeting.
“Improving support for apprentices is long overdue in the jewellery industry. I think this recent meeting was a step in the right direction,” he said.
“We’ve managed to bring this issue to their attention and make it clear that the jewellery industry is unique, and that this is a retail environment with many small stores run by families that require more support in bringing young people into the business.
“It’s not something that will be resolved overnight, and there is a process that needs to be completed, but I think that following that meeting, we can be very optimistic that we are moving in the right direction.”
By addressing the shortage via the OSL, it’s hoped that jewellery apprentices will become eligible for government subsidies offered by bodies such as Apprenticeships Australia.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations collaborates with providers to offer comprehensive support for apprentices, trainees, and their employers throughout their training.
These include priority hiring incentives, reimbursements for training and education, as well as various subsidies and allowances to help offset the cost-of-living pressures during training.
The Occupation Shortage List is reviewed and updated annually, with the next edition scheduled for publication in October.
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