A series of recent reports has highlighted the gap between future industry workforce demand and Tasmanian’s undertaking trades training, as well as the availability future industry training in the state.
The latest vocational education and training data shows there were 390 fewer students undertaking government-funded vocational training in Tasmania in the first 6 months of this year compared to the same period last year. Alarmingly, the sharpest declines have been in trades-related training, with 680 fewer students undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship.
This decline comes at a time when new research conducted by Jobs and Skills Australia shows the rapid pace that future industry jobs are rising as society shifts to a low-now carbon emissions future. This research also highlighted ongoing gender in balance within trades.
The following quotes can be attributed to Tabatha Badger MP, member for Lyons and Greens Spokesperson for Skills and Training:
“To have a future-ready workforce, we need to train people now in the jobs of the future.
“Apprentices and trainees are an integral part of Tasmania’s economy, they are our future skilled workers – we need to be seeing a rise in tradies and training opportunities not a decline.
“The Australian labour market is changing, new job roles are emerging in the clean energy sector, and in Tasmania we must ensure there are training courses and fit for purpose facilities to encourage and grow the future industry workforce.
“Jobs and Skills Australia data clearly highlights that jobs like Electric Vehicle Technicians are fast growing so it is concerning that the relevant qualification for Electric Vehicle Technicians isn’t on TasTAFE’s scope of registration.
“We must invest in our vocational education and training system so Tasmania doesn’t fall behind other states, so we can offer future jobs in Tasmania, to Tasmanian’s. We know that by 2033 more than 9 in 10 new jobs will require a post-school qualification, so there is no excuse for not investing more in Tasmania’s future workforce now.
“The Tasmanian Skills Plan released last week is alarmingly sparse on the details, and the Tasmanian Government must properly map out a detailed plan fixing the gap between forecast for trades workers and the current falling numbers of students, as well as their plan for gender equality within the future industries.”
