The Australia Government has established Jobs and Skills Australia to provide independent advice on current, emerging, and future workforce, skills, and training needs. It will work with unions, employers, state and territory governments, and education and training providers in providing the advice needed to improve skills development, employment opportunities and economic growth.
Jobs and Skills Australia engagement
To inform Jobs and Skills Australia’s permanent arrangements, the Australian Government has considered feedback from more than 200 stakeholders. This includes submissions to the Jobs and Skills Australia Discussion Paper, feedback through the Jobs and Skills Summit and Senate Committee Inquiry for the Jobs and Skills Australia Act, and other targeted consultation.
Jobs and Skills Australia’s role
Jobs and Skills Australia has been established to help address Australia’s economy-wide skills shortages. It will lead research and analysis, harness insights from industry, undertake workforce forecasting and prepare capacity studies for emerging and growing industries. It will provide critical insight into traditionally disadvantaged groups, regional analysis, and support workforce planning.
Jobs and Skills Australia will provide independent advice to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Skills and Training on current, emerging, and future workforce, skills, and training needs. Its advice will inform government policy, programs, and investment; business and industry planning; and the choices Australians make about their education, training and employment.
Visit the Jobs and Skills Australia website to subscribe to updates (located at the bottom of the home page).
Jobs and Skills Australia Legislation
On 16 November 2022, Jobs and Skill Australia was formally established through legislation. The Jobs and Skills Australia Act 2022 enabled the Australian Government to work quickly to establish an interim Jobs and Skills Australia to help address Australia’s workforce challenges while consulting on what else was needed for Jobs and Skills Australia’s ongoing operations. To view the legislation, visit Jobs and Skills Australia Act 2022.
On 22 March 2023, the Australian government introduced into Parliament the Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023. The Bill delivers on the government’s commitment to finalise Jobs and Skills Australia’s permanent arrangements as a tripartite, statutory body. This Bill is being considered by the Parliament.
For information on the amendment Bill visit Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023.
2022-23 Budget
To ensure Jobs and Skills Australia is properly resourced to undertake priority work, the Government announced an additional $12.9 million in the October 2022 Budget to support Jobs and Skills Australia in providing independent advice on current, emerging, and future skills and labour market needs, and current and emerging workforce issues, using data, evidence and analysis.
The funding also provides for an increased emphasis for Jobs and Skills Australia to engage with tripartite partners, and other skills and labour market stakeholders, in developing its advice to Government. This is in addition to a $1.9 million allocated for the Clean Energy Capacity Study, and $12 million for a study on adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills.
For more information on Jobs and Skills Australia funding, visit Minister O’Connor’s Federal Budget media release Media release – Training more Australians for more opportunities in more parts of the country.
