Insights Report forecasts skills priorities

The future of work looks unclear but with coordination between education and industry the type of training that employers want will be clarified.

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) has launched an online resource to help ensure vocational education and training (VET) qualifications and skills are evidence based and meeting the needs of industry.

The National Industry Insights Report combines industry intelligence from the AISC’s network of 64 Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) with broader labour market and training data.

“We need a workforce that can adapt to and take advantage of new opportunities as the nature of work changes. This resource is part of the AISC’s focus on creating a strong evidence base to inform VET training package development and ensure qualifications meet skills needs,” said AISC Chair, John Pollaers.

“It draws on the skills forecasts from IRCs, providing valuable grassroots intelligence from employers, employees and industry peaks about future skills and training needs,” Prof Pollaers said.

The National Industry Insights Report provides information on both an industry and national scale and includes economic and employment trends, skills forecasts and the factors that affect the demand for skills.

The Report was developed for the AISC by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) and highlights a strong demand in many industries for workers with digital skills, cross-industry skills and technical knowledge.

“We all know increased digitalisation and automation of the workforce is already affecting the way we work. The National Industry Insights Report is a fantastic resource to help IRCs in their work to ensure Australian qualifications are relevant, up-to-date, and meet the changing needs and priorities of employers and the economy,” Mr Pollaers said.

The report is available on the National Industry Insights Report website, or via the hyperlink on the AISC website.