Automation: implications for training packages

Automation is inevitably reshaping future skills requirements and, as jobs transform and workers need to transfer skills horizontally across occupational and industry boundaries, soft skills will be increasingly valued. Some competencies will be essential for future employability and endure longer than the expected 2.5-year shelf life for technology use or technical competencies. A cross-sectorial training package with common competencies, and resulting skills sets and qualifications, can be developed to prepare all Australian industries to better adopt automation and respond to other...  [+] Show more

Automation is inevitably reshaping future skills requirements and, as jobs transform and workers need to transfer skills horizontally across occupational and industry boundaries, soft skills will be increasingly valued. Some competencies will be essential for future employability and endure longer than the expected 2.5-year shelf life for technology use or technical competencies. A cross-sectorial training package with common competencies, and resulting skills sets and qualifications, can be developed to prepare all Australian industries to better adopt automation and respond to other technological disruptions. This requires a focus on developing common competencies potentially required by all industries and organisations, and most occupations. This is the final report arising from the Automation Cross-sectorial Project. This document aims to support national efforts to ensure we have training packages in place that can best sustain automation-enabled economic growth through development of skilled workers and a vocational education and training (VET) system that is able to prepare people for the jobs of the future.

Edited excerpts from publication and DeakinCo. website.