This report documents the outcomes of the Australian Industry Group survey of employers about their workforce development and skills needs. The company responses can be divided into four main industry sectors: manufacturing, services, construction and mining. Key issues for employers include: (1) skills shortages, especially for technicians and trade workers, and including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas; (2) apprenticeships and traineeships, around engagement, suitability of applicants, availability of relevant training, and literacy and numeracy issues; (3) the
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This report documents the outcomes of the Australian Industry Group survey of employers about their workforce development and skills needs. The company responses can be divided into four main industry sectors: manufacturing, services, construction and mining. Key issues for employers include: (1) skills shortages, especially for technicians and trade workers, and including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas; (2) apprenticeships and traineeships, around engagement, suitability of applicants, availability of relevant training, and literacy and numeracy issues; (3) the effects of low levels of workplace literacy and numeracy; (4) concerns about the skills of graduates, especially employability skills and literacy and numeracy attainment in the schools sector, and problem-solving, self-management and numeracy in the vocational education and training (VET) sector; and (5) leadership and management skills.
Over half of the employers surveyed will maintain their current training expenditure and 37.8 per cent intend to increase it. The main reasons for changing training expenditure are changes in business conditions, costs and priorities, and relevance of training. The major ways that businesses intend to meet skill needs are by retraining existing staff on the job and employing experienced employees. The main occupational groups that are priorities for training and development are technicians and trade workers, and managers. In-house accredited and non-accredited training is the most favoured training response of employers. Employers tend to have greater links with the VET sector than with higher education and schools. Links with schools are mainly for work experience and placements and with universities for placements or internships.
Edited excerpts from publication.
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