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Introduction
The National Skills Taxonomy (NST) is a new, evidence-based framework that provides a common language for describing the skills Australians gain, develop, and use across education and employment. Developed by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), the NST is designed to make every skill visible, valued, and transferable – helping individuals, educators, employers, and policymakers navigate a rapidly changing world of work.
Australia’s skills system has long been complex, with overlapping rules and frameworks that can make it difficult for people’s true capabilities to be recognised. The NST aims to untangle this complexity by:
- Enabling skills-first clarity: Focus on what people can do, supporting fairer and more accurate recognition of skills.
- Making all skills visible: Highlight often-overlooked skills such as analytical thinking, communication and problem-solving, alongside technical skills.
- Ensuring consistency across systems: Provide a precise, inclusive definition of ‘skill’ so educators, employers and learners can speak the same language.
- Supporting better decisions and outcomes: Enable evidence-based policy, workforce planning and effective measurement of the economic impact of skills.
- Preparing for the future: Help people navigate dynamic labour markets by making skills portable across roles, sectors and learning pathways.
Key Features
- A shared, evidence-based language: For use across vocational education, higher education, and the labour market.
- Inclusive and future-focused: Recognises both technical and “soft” skills, such as communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.
- Interoperable by design: Works with existing Australian and international education and occupation frameworks.
- Stakeholder-driven: Developed with input from across the Australian skills ecosystem.
Consultation and engagement
To inform the design and development of the NST, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) is undertaking a multi-stage engagement process with stakeholders across vocational and higher education, unions, employer groups, and government agencies. This approach ensures the NST is grounded in real-world needs, is practical for both learning and work and equipped for the future.
The first stage began in June 2024 with the release of the NST Discussion Paper for public consultation. This was followed by a series of virtual and in-person workshops and interviews, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed vision, mission, principles, and design features of the NST.
Stakeholder responses have provided a rich information base, shaping the direction of the NST and informing its foundational elements. The NST Consultation Summary and a list of submissions are now available, reflecting the breadth of input received.
Building on this foundation, JSA is continuing its collaborative approach by releasing the latest discussion paper on Skills First on 30 October 2025. This paper invites further input on how a skills-first framework can support workforce development, inclusivity, and adaptability in Australia’s evolving labour market.
Australian Skills Classification
The NST builds on lessons learned from the Australian Skills Classification (ASC) and international best practice. Through extensive consultation with stakeholders – including industry, unions, education providers, and government – the NST has been shaped to reflect real-world needs and to support a more agile, inclusive, and productive workforce.
The ASC was developed to provide a language of skills to increase understanding and recognition of skills across occupations, sectors, and contexts. It featured three categories of skills: Core Competencies, Specialist Tasks, and Technology Tools. The ASC remains available for research purposes. For further information and access to ASC data, please contact nationalskillstaxonomy@jobsandskills.gov.au.
Contact
If you have any questions, or would like to be notified of future developments, please email us at: NationalSkillsTaxonomy@jobsandskills.gov.au