Jobseekers sprawl across event as government promotes 'attractive career pathways'
Australians can now level up their career opportunities as the Albanese Government kicked off its National Skills Week to celebrate the nation’s diverse skills set, the federal government announced.
According to a joint media release by the prime minister and the minister for skills and training, the event, held from 22 August to 28, proves relevant as it comes at a time when Australia is experiencing a skills crisis.
“A robust skills and training sector is critical to driving a productive workforce – this will deliver a stronger economy and more affordable goods and services,” the media release stated.
“Owing to a decade of inaction, Australia is experiencing a serious labour supply shortage and some of the most acute skills shortages of any country in the OECD,” it added.
Actions to address the skills crisis
Based on the media release, one of the important events to address Australia’s economic challenges is the Jobs and Skills Summit, which gathers unions, businesses, government, and industry to discuss proposals that will kickstart the economy and enhance the wages of workers.
“Next week we are hosting our Jobs and Skills Summit that will bring together unions, business groups and the people who help run our world-class VET sector, to look at how we deliver immediate action on the skills shortages Australia is facing,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in the media release.
Aside from the summit, Australians should also keep an eye on the government’s promise of delivering $850mil for 465,000 fee-free Technical and Further Education (TAFE) places to address the skills crisis and improve major TAFE infrastructure.
“This will provide opportunities for school leavers, workers wanting to retrain or upskill and unpaid carers — who are predominantly women — to get into the workforce,” the government said in a media release.
“On top of this, we are creating an extra 45,000 TAFE places for industries suffering acute shortages, and a $50 million TAFE Technology Fund,” it added.
Apprentices and trainees need not worry as the government also said it is providing more opportunities for the sector, including 10,000 apprentice places in the new energy sector and ensuring that one in 10 workers involved in federally funded government projects is an apprentice or trainee.
“Our goal is to build a strong VET sector to help more Australians get secure, well-paying jobs, while providing the skilled workers that business needs to grow our economy,” Albanese said.
The government also noted that the $1.2bil Future Made in Australia Skills Plan would prioritise vital areas of skills shortages with new places at university and TAFE.
With the projection that 9 out of 10 jobs will need a post-secondary qualification in the next five years, the government assured Australians that it is dedicated to ensuring people have the necessary skills.
“The first bill introduced to this parliament was to establish a new independent body Jobs and Skills Australia, to provide independent advice to government so we can better respond to future skills demand and better match taxpayers investment in areas of need,” Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor, said in a media release.
“National Skills Week is a chance to recognise the value of our VET sector and promote it as an important stepping stone on the path to a good career,” he added.
