Encouraging skilled women into the workforce - an untapped resource
Published Thursday, 08 March, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The Queensland Government will work with employers to help women re-enter the workforce John Mickel, Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations said today.
As part of International Women’s Day he announced an employer information kit will be developed in conjunction with key industry groups to assist employers to encourage the re-entry and retention of professional women in the workforce.
“We need to be smarter about harnessing and retaining the skills and experience we have in Queensland, which includes offering work arrangements that facilitate greater participation of women in the professional sector,” Mr Mickel said.
The Minister said the current skills shortage made it imperative to encourage professional women back into the workforce and also to ensure a career path for younger women.
“The Queensland Government will be inviting prominent women to act as champions to help attract professionals back to the workforce and inspire other women to take up professional careers,” Mr Mickel said.
“We’ve already lined up a young maritime and coastal engineer, Ms Melissa Griffith, who will help in raising awareness of young women to the exciting engineering projects on offer right here in Queensland.
“Engineers Australia has declared 2007 the Year of Women in Engineering so we are certainly on the same wavelength. In fact the Queensland Government is sponsoring a Women in Engineering Award under the Smart Women - Smart State Awards.
“As part of our sponsorship we will be offering a tailored professional development opportunity to an outstanding young woman,” he said.
In addition, the employer information kit will identify programs and provide guidance on how to implement better employment and retention strategies for women.
Mr Mickel said part of the role of Ms Griffith will be to liaise with the Department so that the information kit contains practical and targeted advice.
The Department of State Development will also collaborate with the Office of Women to increase awareness among employers on the benefits of women re-entering the workforce.
“As women still face substantial impediments to entering and re-entering the workforce women are a priority group for assistance under the Queensland Government’s Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative, which will be replaced by the new Skilling Queenslanders for Work program in July,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Government also assists long-term unemployed parents and carers through the Back to Work: Parents and Carers program. To date $3.8 million has been allocated and 90 per cent of the participants are women.
“Initiatives including child care, transport assistance and provision of wage subsidies will help get Queenslanders back into the workforce. This will continue under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.
“There is strong recognition within the community that we need to get serious about meeting critical skills shortages in the labour market and offering flexible work arrangements for women is a good option for employers and employees,” he said.
He added that the Queensland Government is working with the Australian Industry Group (AIG) to develop a project focusing on assisting women into non-traditional industries including manufacturing, engineering, transport and distribution and civil construction.
The project will total $180,000 and assist 120 participants, 36 of whom will be women, by providing accredited training and work experience within the industry.
Media Contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
Department Contact: Rose Trapnell 3227 8483
8 March 2007
As part of International Women’s Day he announced an employer information kit will be developed in conjunction with key industry groups to assist employers to encourage the re-entry and retention of professional women in the workforce.
“We need to be smarter about harnessing and retaining the skills and experience we have in Queensland, which includes offering work arrangements that facilitate greater participation of women in the professional sector,” Mr Mickel said.
The Minister said the current skills shortage made it imperative to encourage professional women back into the workforce and also to ensure a career path for younger women.
“The Queensland Government will be inviting prominent women to act as champions to help attract professionals back to the workforce and inspire other women to take up professional careers,” Mr Mickel said.
“We’ve already lined up a young maritime and coastal engineer, Ms Melissa Griffith, who will help in raising awareness of young women to the exciting engineering projects on offer right here in Queensland.
“Engineers Australia has declared 2007 the Year of Women in Engineering so we are certainly on the same wavelength. In fact the Queensland Government is sponsoring a Women in Engineering Award under the Smart Women - Smart State Awards.
“As part of our sponsorship we will be offering a tailored professional development opportunity to an outstanding young woman,” he said.
In addition, the employer information kit will identify programs and provide guidance on how to implement better employment and retention strategies for women.
Mr Mickel said part of the role of Ms Griffith will be to liaise with the Department so that the information kit contains practical and targeted advice.
The Department of State Development will also collaborate with the Office of Women to increase awareness among employers on the benefits of women re-entering the workforce.
“As women still face substantial impediments to entering and re-entering the workforce women are a priority group for assistance under the Queensland Government’s Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative, which will be replaced by the new Skilling Queenslanders for Work program in July,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Government also assists long-term unemployed parents and carers through the Back to Work: Parents and Carers program. To date $3.8 million has been allocated and 90 per cent of the participants are women.
“Initiatives including child care, transport assistance and provision of wage subsidies will help get Queenslanders back into the workforce. This will continue under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.
“There is strong recognition within the community that we need to get serious about meeting critical skills shortages in the labour market and offering flexible work arrangements for women is a good option for employers and employees,” he said.
He added that the Queensland Government is working with the Australian Industry Group (AIG) to develop a project focusing on assisting women into non-traditional industries including manufacturing, engineering, transport and distribution and civil construction.
The project will total $180,000 and assist 120 participants, 36 of whom will be women, by providing accredited training and work experience within the industry.
Media Contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
Department Contact: Rose Trapnell 3227 8483
8 March 2007