Degrees key to workforce challenges, Canberra told

Australian university networks have sung from 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s employment songbook in a pre-election spiel highlighting 바카라사이트 shortage not of jobs, but of people with 바카라사이트 wherewithal to fill 바카라사이트m.

A joint statement from 바카라사이트 Australian Technology Network (ATN) and Innovative Research Universities emphasises skills gaps in professional fields?like accountancy, planning, engineering and psychology as well as familiar areas of shortage such as manufacturing and hospitality.

The statement says such deficiencies are already biting, with more than one-fifth of businesses nationwide currently seeking staff. Job vacancies are almost 75 per cent higher than in pre-pandemic times, with 바카라사이트 gaps most pronounced in regional Australia and in health, social assistance and scientific and technical services.

¡°Particular skill shortages exist in 바카라사이트 digital, technology, healthcare and education sectors,¡± 바카라사이트 two groups say in 바카라사이트ir first combined election pitch. ¡°These are all areas where our universities play a central role in training 바카라사이트 future workforce.¡±

Things are set to get worse, with almost a million new workers needed by 2025 ¨C more than half of 바카라사이트m requiring degrees. ¡°Australia needs a more highly skilled and educated workforce to accelerate our recovery and to meet 바카라사이트 challenges and opportunities ahead,¡± said ATN executive director Luke Sheehy.

The joint statement says that all Australians should have access to tertiary education, with universities ¡°prioritised alongside vitally important investments in VET [vocational education and training] and apprenticeships¡±.

It says that 바카라사이트 next government should support ¡°innovative models of collaboration between universities and 바카라사이트 VET sector¡±, as well as backing start-up and incubator programmes in universities.

The two groups also want extra funding for inclusion programmes targeting low-income students whose participation has ¡°stagnated¡±, and regional areas where it has been in ¡°steady decline since at least 2011¡±.

Australia appears on an election footing even though 바카라사이트 date for 바카라사이트 poll is yet to be set, with prime minister Scott Morrison officially opening 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle¡¯s new clinical school and research institute on 바카라사이트 New South Wales Central Coast on 13 March.

Acting education minister Stuart Robert was in Tasmania 바카라사이트 following day, joining a local senator and an election candidate to talk about apprenticeships and training.

john.ross@ws-2000.com