Jobs Queensland annual report released

The Palaszczuk Government’s efforts to create jobs and develop the skills needed in the workforce now and in the future are being driven by expert research that will produce long-term benefits in the years ahead.

Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman said Jobs Queensland’s 2017-18 Annual Report published today, highlighted the progress being made to develop a skilled workforce for the state’s key industries and support growing regional economies.

“We need to ensure that Queensland will have the skilled workers to fill the growing industries now and into the future,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Jobs Queensland’s is assisting our efforts to generate more jobs across the state and we are already using this information to support our tourism and advanced manufacturing industries and developing a regional workforce plan for the Fraser Coast region.”

“Under the Queensland Tourism Workforce Plan 2017-2020, 13 regional tourism workforce plans have been released that detail strategic approaches to support jobs and training in this vibrant industry, as an estimated 20,000 workers will be join this sector by 2020.

“Through the Young Tourism Leaders program, 41 people are promoting the diverse careers available in this sector and we are targeting $3.6 million over three years for tourism training in addition to the on demand funding available through the Annual VET Investment Plan.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap is working to make this state a leader in this innovative sector and assisting both new and traditional manufacturers to supply high-tech products and components.

“We recently established a Manufacturing Skills Working Group to progress the recommendations in Jobs Queensland’s Advancing Manufacturing Skills report, which outlines skills and workforce responses to support Queensland industry’s transition to advanced manufacturing.”

Jobs Queensland has also worked with the manufacturing industry in Ipswich to develop a manufacturing workforce report and action plan to support skills and employment growth in the region.

“Adopting cutting edge technology and developing the skilled workforce to deliver on the promise and potential that the sector can support,” Ms Fentiman said

“Jobs Queensland has partnered with CSIRO and TAFE Queensland to develop a a workforce development strategy for the region and publish the Growing Opportunities in the Fraser Coast: Informing Regional Workforce Development to support the region and its key and emerging industries.

Jobs Queensland Interim Chair Peter Henneken AM said technological change, global competition, an ageing population and other factors are making it increasingly important for Queensland to plan, develop and invest in its skilled workforce at both the regional and industry levels.

“Over the last year we have worked closely with Queensland’s manufacturing and tourism industries to develop comprehensive workforce strategies to position them to compete, grow and provide future employment opportunities in a rapidly changing world,” Mr Henneken said.

“We have undertaken local placed-based workforce planning and development to support communities in the Fraser Coast and Ipswich to take the lead in tackling their workforce challenges and in developing strategies to capitalise on the opportunities ahead.

Ms Fentiman said while work continues on implementing Jobs Queensland’s key recommendations, research was underway on how to better anticipate future skill needs and how to support Queenslanders to transition to new opportunities.

“The Palaszczuk Government is also supporting the recommendations from the Positive Futures: Apprenticeships and Traineeships in Queensland report to ensure these training pathways continue to deliver the skilled workers that the industry will need and benefit our growing economy.

“In 2018-19 Jobs Queensland will build on this work and deliver research focused on the impact of future of work, how to best support social enterprise and how to strengthen policy outcomes achieved by the Certificate 3 Guarantee program.

Jobs Queensland was established in 2016 as a statutory entity to provide independent expert advice on current and future skills needs, workforce development and planning in the context of a changing economy and society and the apprenticeship and traineeship system in Queensland. The Jobs Queensland Annual Report 2017-18 is available at: www.jobsqueensland.qld.gov.au/jq-resources/

ENDS

Media contact:                      Inga Williams              0439 949 719