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This study informs regional workforce development planning in the Fraser Coast Local Government Area. Drawing on literature reviews, employment data and stakeholder interviews, the study reveals how the demand and supply of skills is changing over time. Based on this analysis it identifies how regional workforce development could be directed to maximise future economic opportunities for workers and businesses.

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The [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 pandemic has led to a widespread shift to remote work, reducing the level of face-to-face interaction between workers and changing their modes and patterns of communication. This study tests whether this transformation in production processes has been associated with disruptions in the longstanding labour market trend of increasing demand for interpersonal skills. To address this question, we integrate a skills taxonomy with the text of over 12 million Australian job postings to measure skills demand trends at the aggregate and occupational levels. We find that since the start of the pandemic, there has been an acceleration in the aggregate demand for interpersonal skills. We also find a strong positive association between an occupation's propensity for remote work and the acceleration in interpersonal skills demand for the occupation. Our findings suggest that interpersonal skills continue to grow in importance for employment in the post-pandemic, remote work friendly labour market.

Published abstract.

Forthcoming article first published online 8 January 2024 by Springer Nature. Show less

The generality of the umbrella term 'STEM' (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) as a synonym for a diverse group of skills and academic fields poses various problems in terms of workforce planning and targeted interventions. This webinar brings together a synthesis from National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) research investigating various educational and occupational concepts associated with STEM.

Generally, the focus has been on how the school and university sectors can help equip the workforce with the STEM-related skills and knowledge considered necessary for the changing economy. NCVER's research explores ways to measure how the vocational education and training (VET) sector is contributing to the development of STEM-related skills. Better measurement of STEM in VET can help to identify supply and demand for education and training, assess (and improve) outcomes and efficiency, direct funding and resources, and properly inform students' choices.

In this webinar the following propositions will be discussed: there is no universally shared definition of STEM skills and therefore there cannot be comparable 'STEM' statistics; initiatives or statistics should be planned and reported separately per defined field of discipline (e.g. natural sciences, engineering, finance or health) or skill type (technical, higher cognitive or socio-emotional); and the contributions and potential of the VET sector are underreported and underrepresented.

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This report is the product of a joint project undertaken by CSIRO and TAFE Queensland which investigates how the vocational education and training (VET) sector can best support Australia's future workforce in the context of evolving skill needs and forthcoming digital disruption. The VET sector provides Australians with the skills they need to participate in the labour market and Australia's industries with the workers they need to drive the national economy. However, as digital technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous, business models and employment models are being disrupted and machines are developing the capability to perform ever more complex tasks. The impact of such changes on the roles and tasks required of workers are already being seen. As advances in digital technology continue to accelerate, these changes are expected to become more pervasive and rapid, so that workers will need to learn and re-skill in an ongoing manner, either to keep up with new role requirements or re-skill for new jobs (as old jobs are automated). For this reason, the readiness and agility of the VET sector will be critical in determining how well Australian workers transition to participate in a more digital economy and in turn, how well the nation's economy will grow through the opportunities presented by technological change. In response to these needs, this research provides insight into the types of skills and ways of working that are likely to be required in the future. This task was approached from two angles. First, the authors analyse labour market trends and national employment data to identify how the demand for skills is changing with increased uptake of technology. Second, they draw upon the research literature and interviews with key stakeholders (representatives from employers, government, VET providers, technology providers, students and research experts) to consider how greater efficiency, agility and transparency could be achieved through innovative application of digital technology within the VET sector.

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This report examines plausible futures for jobs and employment markets in Australia over the coming 20 years. The narrative of the future is based on a structured process of strategic foresight which identifies megatrends and scenarios. While digital technology disruption is an important driver, the report covers a comprehensive range of technological, economic, social, environmental and geopolitical trends. The aim is to inform strategic choices of governments, companies, communities and individuals in planning for economic growth, productive industries, rewarding careers, cohesive communities and improved quality of life. The implications of this report are that workforce transitions - how individuals move from one job to another and how industries move from one labour market structure to another - are crucial. Although change is inevitable, future destinations are not. Based on this narrative of the future, individuals, communities, companies and governments can identify and implement transition pathways that achieve better outcomes.

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The Australian labour market has become increasingly dynamic, placing new pressures on job seekers, workers and employers. Businesses now have to adapt to changes driven by technology, globalisation and other factors. The skills students learn today need to prepare them for the jobs of the future. Some workers will need to transition to new career paths in the future while others will require re-skilling to remain employable. Equipping citizens, businesses, educators and policy makers with relevant information about the labour market will be critical in ensuring all Australians are able to navigate these future changes. This report explores how the Australian Government Department of Employment could improve upon its current predictive capabilities to better forecast jobs and skills in the Australian economy.

[The] report proposes the Employment Data Ecosystem (EDE) as a way to improve how users understand and anticipate changes in the Australian labour market. The EDE will be an online platform that provides a central access point for data, information and intelligence on the Australian labour market. It will combine traditional and real-time data sources to offer insights into current and long-term changes in the labour market. Moreover, the EDE will cater for the diverse range of information needs by providing intuitive search channels and personalised tools that allow users to easily navigate the available data and answer their specific questions. The EDE will not be a stagnant platform; it will grow and evolve as new data sources and tools become available, offering the most up-to-date insights into the labour market.

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