Industry skills report: resources and infrastructure

The purpose of industry skills reports is to engage industry around current issues and how these issues may or may not affect the future skills base for the industry. The reports include suggestions for addressing future skill needs. While they cover a broad range of issues, their focus is on training and they are designed to assist industry, training providers and training policy makers. It is expected that the reports will be updated annually to reflect contemporary developments.

This report covers skills issues associated with the resources and infrastructure industry and suggests strategies to address future skill needs in this industry. The following drivers of skill needs have particular impact on the resources and infrastructure industry: market expansion; occupational health and safety issues (OH&S); demographic change; regulatory compliance; and worker attraction and retention. Other drivers are: consumer and customer service demands; competitiveness and productivity demands; technological advancement; globalisation; insurance; e-business; and employment arrangements. Suggestions made in the report for the training system include: stronger communication and articulation between the various forms of training and education in order to achieve greater integration and utilisation of skills; greater implementation of flexible delivery modes, expanded use of employee training plans and more industry association involvement and guidance; continued integration of OH&S competencies into the units of competency; continued professional development for registered training organisations (RTOs); and clear information about career paths to enable informed employment and education choices. The contents include: Executive summary; Purpose; Industry profile; Training package coverage; Employment trends; Drivers of industry skill needs and skill issues; Vocational education and training trends; Glossary; References. Show less