XN000022-1987-05-04 — Page 5

1

MONDAY, MAY 4, 1987

ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEEDS TRAINING SUPPORT *****

THE EXPORT PERFORMANCE OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY HAS IMPROVED SINCE 1986 AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AT A MODEST PACE IN THE COMING YEARS. THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL SAID IN A MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT ON THE INDUSTRY,

TO COPE WITH THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY, THE BOARD SAID THAT MANUFACTURERS SHOULD RAISE PRODUCTIVITY BY INVESTING IN NEW PLANT, MACHINERY AND TRAINING OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER.

IN THE REPORT, THE BOARD FORECAST THAT THE INDUSTRY WOULD NEED AN ADDITIONAL 430 TECHNOLOGISTS, 740 TECHNICIANS, 320 CRAFTSMEN AND 3 600 OPERATIVES EACH YEAR UP TO 1991.

THE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN JUNE LAST YEAR REVEALED THAT AS THE RESULT OF THE WORLDWIDE DECLINE IN DEMAND FOR ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS IN 1985 AND EARLY 1986, THE TOTAL WORKFORCE OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY DROPPED FROM 107 000 IN 1984 TO 93 000 IN 1986.

AUTOMATION ADOPTED BY THE INDUSTRY AND THE REMOVAL OF MANY PRODUCTION FACILITIES FOR LOW-END ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES WERE ALSO CAUSES FOR THE TECHNICAL MANPOWER REDUCTION.

THE SURVEY RECORDED THAT THE BIGGEST DROP WAS AT THE LEVEL OF OPERATIVE, FROM 78 000 IN 1984 TO 64 500 IN 1986.

OPERATIVES ACCOUNTED FOR 70 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL WORKFORCE OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY.

DESPITE THE DROP OF MANPOWER DEMAND, THE INDUSTRY WAS STILL HAVING DIFFICULTIES IN RECRUITING OPERATIVES, BECAUSE FEWER FORM 3 LEAVERS WENT INTO EMPLOYMENT AS MORE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES WERE AVAILABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

SCHOOL LEAVERS' PREFERENCE TO JOBS IN COMMERCIAL AND SERVICING SECTORS AND SERVING WORKERS LEAVING FOR JOBS IN SERVICING SECTORS HAD ALSO DIMINISHED THE MANPOWER SUPPLY AT OPERATIVE LEVEL.

NEVERTHELESS, THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT WHEN THERE WAS A DECLINE OF TOTAL MANPOWER, THE NUMBER OF TECHNICIANS GREW FROM 12 500 IN 1984 TO 13 600 IN 1986.

THE GROWTH WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE WHICH LED TO THE DEMAND OF TECHNICIANS OF THAT TRADE.

THE INCREASING ADOPTION OF AUTOMATION HAD RESULTED IN THE UPGRADING OF SOME JOBS FROM CRAFT LEVEL TO TECHNICIAN LEVEL, THUS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED TECHNICIANS IN THE INDUSTRY.

THE SURVEY REPORT, CONTAINING DETAILED MANPOWER STATISTICS OF THE ELECTRONICS INDÚSTRY, IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT $13.50 A COPY.

/5