Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap supporting Queensland jobs

• Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap sets out $30 million in investments to help create a skilled, job-ready workforce to deliver Queensland’s clean energy transformation.
• Queensland’s clean energy transformation will support around 100,000 new jobs by 2040 with workers in electrical trades, engineering, construction, and technical workers already in high demand. 
• The clean energy transformation will support around 100,000 new jobs for Queenslanders by 2040.
•  In demand areas include: electrical trades; engineering; construction; technicians; science and technology; corporate roles; and education, training and development.

Released today, Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap outlines a pathway for government, industry, workers and the community to work together to create the future energy workforce Queensland needs. It is is supported by the Future Energy Jobs Guide, which comprehensively outlines job opportunities and career pathways available to existing workers and school students.

 Developed in consultation with over 90 key stakeholder groups statewide, the Roadmap captures the priorities of regional communities and industry to ensure the right skills are delivered in the right locations.

The $30 million in funded actions include:

• Piloting of Mobile Regional Energy Jobs Hubs across the Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (QREZ) regions to connect regional communities to job opportunities
• an expansion to the Gateway to Industry Schools program to cover a dedicated renewable energy focus, and online resources to support Queensland teachers to deliver clean energy content and student learning
• regionally tailored clean energy future skills demand/supply analysis and jobs opportunity guides
• A skills academy as part of Stanwell’s Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub in Rockhampton
• a program of investments for state owned training infrastructure.
• expansion of the VET Emerging Industries initiative
• co-funding of up to 20 places in Engineers Australia Global Engineering Talent Pilot Program for future clean energy related positions

Quotes attributable to the Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“Queensland is well positioned to lead the clean energy revolution, taking advantage of our state’s natural resources, and established high quality training and training infrastructure.

“It’s why we released the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, focused on delivering more jobs and creating clean, reliable and affordable energy to provide power for generations.

“Our government has built the first facilities in the nation to deliver the skills and training for the renewable energy and hydrogen jobs needed for the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

“The Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap will further expand renewable energy training into more than 30 schools for 2,000 students across Queensland.

“That includes establishing school to industry partnerships so that our young people can have the opportunity to have access to good paying and secure jobs in the regions they are living in.

“The plan also expands on work to provide new skills for existing workers including a Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub in Rockhampton.

“Together, Queenslanders will be at the forefront of new opportunities from the energy transformation, with the majority of infrastructure investment and employment in regional areas.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer:

“This is the workforce plan to support the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

“The Roadmap has a critical role in helping to identify how many jobs will need to be filled? What sort of jobs they are? Where they are? What skills will be required? Armed with this information helps us make it all of that happen.

“We know there will be demand for electrical trades jobs; engineering; construction; technicians; science and technology; corporate roles; and education, training and development. We are creating exciting pathways for Queenslanders. I urge school leavers and existing workers to explore career opportunities in the Future Energy Jobs Guide.

“All this builds on the strong workforce foundations set out in our Queensland Workforce Strategy and the more than $1.2 billion we invest annually delivering high quality training and exciting career pathways for Queenslanders.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni:

“There are thousands of opportunities for decent, secure and well-paid jobs for Queenslanders in the clean energy transformation.

“Through the Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap, the Palaszczuk Government will develop the highly skilled workforce required to roll out Queensland’s transition to renewable energy so we can help Queenslanders cut emissions and save on power bills.

“This roadmap, along with the Palaszczuk Government’s $150 million Job Security Guarantee, and laws introduced into Parliament this week, mean energy workers at Queensland’s publicly owned coal-fired power stations can be confident there will be good jobs for them and generations to come in regional Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Energy Skills Queensland Chief Executive Officer David Cross

“Energy Skills Queensland welcomes the investment by the Palaszczuk Government in Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce as it is our people and our regions that will be driving the energy transformation over the next decade. 

“The Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to vocational training, to Queensland’s universities and to pathways for students in our schooling system augurs well for the future. Transforming the workforce now helps begin that journey while laying a critical and positive platform for the industry over the longer-term. 

“The efforts of training organisations to equip the electrical trades, engineering, construction, and technical workers is crucial. 

"Equally, this development must be guided by quality real-time data and the capture and management of verifiable competencies and skills.” 

Quotes attributable to the Greater Whitsunday Alliance Chief Executive Officer Kylie Porter

“Queensland’s clean energy transformation is strongly aligned to our region’s workforce skills and expertise.

“Our long history in mining; mining equipment, technology and services (METS); and manufacturing means our regional workers will be at the forefront of supporting Queensland as its transforms our energy sector for a cleaner future.

"We look forward to utilising Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap to maximise the workforce and supply opportunities within the Isaac Renewable Energy Zone.”

Further Information:

View the Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap at https://desbt.qld.gov.au/employment/strategies/clean-energy-workforce

View the Future Energy Jobs Guide at https://www.qld.gov.au/jobs/career/energy-jobs-guide

Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap also delivers on key actions in the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 and the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan to achieve Queensland’s energy transformation.

For more visit:

https://desbt.qld.gov.au/employment/support-employers/workforce-strategy

https://www.epw.qld.gov.au/energyandjobsplan

Media contact:

Minister Farmer - Gary Shipway 0458 090 906

Kylie Porter (Greater Whitsunday Alliance)  - Fallon Drewett 0417 727 084

David Cross (Energy Skills Queensland) – Juliana Castro 0404 922 247