“We believe that 2011 is going to be a bumper year for job seekers, with the returning skills shortages set to heat up,” Manpower Australia managing director Lincoln Crawley said.

“Companies are going to have to be flexible about their job criteria and consider candidates who tick most, but not all, of their boxes.

“At the same time, candidates who are willing to relocate, reskill or change industries will have plenty of opportunities to succeed.”

Of the more than 2200 Australian employers surveyed, 28% planned to increase hiring in the first three months of 2011 compared to 27% in the December quarter.

“We’ve heard a lot from mining and construction sector employers about skills shortages and these figures now serve to add more urgency to the need for a solution,” Crawley said.

“Organisations need to prioritise attraction and retention strategies as the war for talent will be heating up.”

Mining companies are also competing for skilled workers against various major gas projects under development in Queensland and Western Australia.