Careers

Careers in Light Manufacturing

South Australia has a demand for skilled people within the light manufacturing sector of the manufacturing industry.

MISAC research supports national research which suggests manufacturing companies are demanding higher levels of skills, frequent updating of skills and excellent 'soft' skills as well as technical skills. Over 90 per cent of companies look for people who are flexible and adaptive, willing to learn on the job, people who are team players, technically competent and committed to excellence. All of these attributes will remain important to employers in coming years.

Jobs within the Light Manufacturing sector offer:

  • Skills for Life
  • Variety
  • Career Progression
  • Unlimited Opportunities and you can Earn while you learn

The prime jobs needed by industry are:

  • Cabinet Maker
  • Floor Finisher
  • Forest Industry Occupations
  • Glazier
  • Mattress Maker
  • Pulp and Paper Products
  • Upholsterer
  • Wood Machinist 

Securing Employment

Visit the following sites to apply for pre-vocational courses and/or apply for employment within the light manufacturing sector.

Youth

Firstly, identify what you enjoy doing!

Did you enjoy the technical aspects of your schooling? Consider enjoyable projects you have undertaken, no doubt it was fun putting energy into their completion. Use that experience to guide your career choice.

There are great career opportunities within the light manufacturing sector, especially for young people entering the workforce. Skilled workers will always have a job. South Australia needs skilled workers; there are a broad range of employment opportunities, with very attractive wages and job conditions across the light manufacturing sector. With a career in the light manufacturing sector you earn while you learn and enjoy a great lifestyle.

For further information visit Change Your Life Today

Other links:

Parents

Parents know their children best. Parents therefore have a vital role to play in providing good advice or direction to their children, whether their children are 12 or 24. Parents need industry support to provide this accurate and timely advice. MISAC has developed a series of job sheets describing employment opportunities, entry level information and tasks employees perform in the workplace. Links to these sheets can be found at Change Your Life Today.

The South Australian manufacturing industry has many niche companies that are South Australia's quiet achievers, manufacturers exporting their goods to the world and securing very good returns for their efforts. South Australia's workforce is rapidly ageing, apart from maintaining current numbers in manufacturing workforce, persons with manufacturing trades are in demand by the Mineral Resources, Oil & Gas and Defence Industries. For further information visit Change Your Life Today

Other links:

Employees

As the pace of change accelerates it will be the adaptability of people and the ability of work organisations to move quickly to exploit new opportunities that will determine our ability to create and sustain competitive advantage.

Benefits of Continuous Training

  • Job Satisfaction
  • Improved Employability Opportunities
  • Increased Skill Level
  • Improved Knowledge and Understanding
  • Valued by Enterprise Management
  • Improved Workmanship
  • Career Progression Opportunities
  • Ability to Adapt with Changing Environment
  • Safer Work Environment
  • Increase in Pay Level

For further information visit Change Your Life Today  or Manufacturing Skills Australia or Forestworks

Industry

Research suggests training is crucial for the sustainability of manufacturing companies operating in a global market. Skilling new and existing workers are needed due to:

  • the rapidly changing nature of skills required in a modern workforce.
  • the need for a highly skilled and flexible workforce to help ensure that enterprises become and remain competitive in an increasingly competitive global market place.
  • the lack of post-school skills and qualifications by many existing workers.
  • the ageing population and the need to retain existing workers.

Benefits of Continuous Training for Employers

  • Improved Productivity
  • Improved Quality
  • Innovation
  • Competitiveness
  • Adaptability of Workforce
  • Flexibility
  • Reduced Costs
  • Introduction of New Technology
  • Customer Orientation

Employee development is about building on that foundation of cross-industry skills to prepare for the future work environment.

Training Methods

  • Job Rotation
  • Formal Courses
  • Informal Coaching
  • In-house Training
  • Job Sharing
  • Mentoring on-the-Job
  • Web-Based Learning
  • Shadowing Other Staff
  • Informal Instruction
  • Short Courses

MISAC has a resource available to support workforce development

  • Developing Your Career in the South Australian Manufacturing Industry

For further information about government incentives for industry to train visit Change Your Life Today

Other links:

Change your life today