A study investigated skill shortages in the electrical and associated industries in Victoria and their nature and contributing factors. Research methods were a literature review, data analysis, and qualitative and quantitative research into apprentices, employers, and practitioners. Findings indicated a decline in the number of apprentices in training in this industry, and there is no evidence of a turnaround in this trend. Shortages appeared related to globalization, the emerging new economy, move to privatization in the Victorian economy, growth in self-employment, and other alternatives to traditional forms of work organization. Two plausible explanations of skills shortages were cost of apprenticeships and shortage of suitable applicants. Factors impeding firms from engaging apprentices under group schemes were employers' preference to employ apprentices directly and the commonly held view that the quality of group apprentices was inferior. Labor hire firms were discouraged from employing apprentices by the negative attitude of their clients, lack of suitable work, economic uncertainty, and greater flexibility inherent in the group training scheme. Practitioners identified specific shortages of skills, cited high wastage of people from the trade, and criticized recruiting methods. (Appendixes include 58 references, research questions, and research methodology.) (YLB)