The Workforce Action Plan sets out the strategies and initiatives, stakeholder engagement and research, and governance and reporting that will take place through to 2023-24 to help develop individual sector-based strategies
On this page:
2021-22
Workforce strategies and initiatives
- Establish a whole of government approach to workforce issues, including development of the National Workforce Strategy.
- Collaborate with Commonwealth departments and agencies to develop and renew sectoral workforce strategies to reflect the national framework.
- Improve labour market efficiency through considering the need for reforms, programs, and policies. This includes implementing approved initiatives to address immediate workforce issues in the short term.
- Develop options to support the National Workforce Strategy’s areas of focus, including:
- increasing women’s participation as an economic and social priority
- reducing inequality in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s employment outcomes under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
- reducing barriers to the employment of people with disability under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 and the Disability Employment Services Review
- building critical sectors and skills to maintain Australia’s advantage and global competitiveness; and
- ensuring Australia’s care and support workforce has the capacity and capability to meet the needs of our ageing population and people with disability.
- Ensure Australians have access to the foundational language, literacy, and digital skills necessary to participate in the modern workforce.
- Ensure a high quality, relevant, responsive skills and training sector through the ongoing program of reform.
- Utilise overseas workers to supplement the domestic workforce and fill labour and skill gaps.
- Provide support for workers so they have the right skills when changing jobs.
- Identify relevant workforce data sets.
Stakeholder engagement and research
- Strengthen partnerships with industry, employers and education and training providers at a whole of government level.
- Highlight the role of the higher education and training sectors in promoting skilled jobs growth, particularly in STEM, health care and teaching-related fields.
- Establish roundtables with workforce practitioners and experts to explore contemporary workforce issues and best practice initiatives.
- Undertake innovative research into workforce issues to inform policy and initiatives.
- Identify workforce data gaps and improve data availability.
- Research and identify international approaches with applicability to the Australian labour market
2022-24
Workforce strategies and initiatives
- Review and update the National Workforce Strategy to reflect changes in the labour market and the needs of employers.
- Collaborate with Commonwealth departments and agencies to develop and renew sectoral workforce strategies to reflect the national framework.
- Improve labour market efficiency through considering the need for reforms, programs, and policies. This includes implementing approved initiatives to address workforce issues in the medium and longer term.
- Reduce mismatches between employer needs and job seeker skills by ensuring access to quick, high-quality reskilling and upskilling opportunities through reforms to skills funding, industry engagement and quality.
- Develop options to further support the National Workforce Strategy’s areas of focus, including:
- increasing women’s participation as an economic and social priority
- reducing inequality in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s employment outcomes under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
- reducing barriers to the employment of people with disability under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 and the Disability Employment Services Review
- building critical sectors and skills to maintain Australia’s advantage and global competitiveness; and
- ensuring Australia’s care and support workforce has the capacity and capability to meet the needs of our ageing population and people with disability.
- Utilise overseas workers to supplement the domestic workforce and fill labour and skill gaps.
- Provide support for workers so they have the right skills to meet the needs of a changing labour market.
- Ensure Australians have access to the foundational language, literacy, and digital skills necessary to participate in the modern workforce.
- Ensure a high quality, relevant, responsive skills and training sector through the ongoing program of reform.
- Facilitate greater labour mobility to increase employment opportunities and support regional employers to access skilled workers— including the adoption of remote digital technology — and remove barriers to relocation for workers.
- Support job seekers and employers in regional areas to achieve equal levels of access and opportunity to participate in the labour market.
- Further refine data sets and availability.
Stakeholder engagement and research
- Strengthen partnerships with industry, employers and education and training providers at a whole of government level.
- Highlight the role of the higher education and training sectors in promoting skilled jobs growth, particularly in STEM, health care and teaching-related fields.
- Establish roundtables with workforce practitioners and experts to explore contemporary workforce issues and best practice initiatives.
- Undertake innovative research into workforce issues to inform policy and initiatives.
- Identify workforce data gaps and improve data availability.
Governance and reporting
- Ongoing governance and monitoring to track progress against the National Workforce Strategy.
- Continuation of the National Workforce Taskforce.
- Provide up-to-date data.
National Workforce Strategy Action Plan
Created:
The two-page National Workforce Strategy Action Plan sets out the workforce strategies and initiatives, stakeholder engagement and research, and the governance and reporting over the coming years.
