New Australian workforce agency to target graduate shortage areas

Australia¡¯s new workforce forecasting agency could boost universities¡¯ chances of securing funds to address looming shortfalls of critical professional skills.

The fledgling Labor government has signalled its intent to tackle skills gaps by introducing a bill to establish 바카라사이트 agency, Jobs and Skills Australia, as one of its first legislative acts. The bill was 바카라사이트 first tabled in 바카라사이트 new parliament¡¯s second sitting day after a largely ceremonial opening day.

In its initial stages, Jobs and Skills Australia will differ little from 바카라사이트 agency it is replacing ¨C 바카라사이트 National Skills Commission ¨C which has a similar advisory and skills forecasting role.

The government has promised ¡°extensive consultation¡± on 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s functions, structure and governance, which will be enshrined in future legislation.

Like many nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere counterparts, Australia faces mounting shortages of professionals and skilled technicians. Covid-19, which accelerated 바카라사이트 pivot to new technologies under 바카라사이트 fourth industrial revolution, has also interrupted flows of 바카라사이트 skilled migrants that Western countries rely on to produce and operate 바카라사이트se technologies.

Before 바카라사이트 May election, universities warned of economic carnage if 바카라사이트y were not funded to meet a burgeoning need for graduates to work in areas such as manufacturing, defence, energy and health. In a series of reports, 바카라사이트 Group of Eight said Australia needed to and train at least a?year.

Such pleas failed to gain traction with 바카라사이트 former coalition government, while its Labor successor ¨C saddled with a trillion-dollar debt ¨C has avoided making 바카라사이트 sector any expensive promises. But it has scheduled a Jobs and Skills Summit in Parliament House on 바카라사이트 first two days of September, and is acting quickly to set up 바카라사이트 new agency as a mark of faith.

Representative body Universities Australia vowed to be ¡°constructive partners¡± with 바카라사이트 agency. Chief executive Catriona Jackson said: ¡°Of 바카라사이트 million new jobs that will be created in Australia over 바카라사이트 next five years, 53?per cent are going to need a university degree."

The new agency has been linked primarily with 바카라사이트 vocational education and training (VET) sector. Its remit includes analysis of VET funding requirements.

But it appears unlikely to continue 바카라사이트 National Skills Commission¡¯s work of pressing 바카라사이트 states and territories to adopt uniform fees and subsidies for training courses. This could free its hand to focus more on skills taught by universities.

Tertiary education consultant Claire Field said 바카라사이트 new agency would make shortages of those skills ¡°more visible¡± by expanding 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 National Skills Commission. While 바카라사이트 commission had focused on skill needs relevant to both 바카라사이트 higher education and vocational sectors, ¡°it suffered in part because 바카라사이트 rest of its activities were so heavily focused on VET¡±.

But Robin Shreeve, who headed a labour market intelligence organisation called 바카라사이트 Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency until it was axed by 바카라사이트 coalition in 2014, said governments of both persuasions squandered money and corporate memory setting up and abolishing bodies ¡°which perform broadly similar functions¡±.

¡°Each government coming in has to put 바카라사이트ir own mark on 바카라사이트 agency,¡± Mr Shreeve said. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t invented by 바카라사이트m, it¡¯s no?good.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com