The second edition of JSA’s Jobs and Skills Roadmap for Regional Australia provides insight into jobs and skills outcomes across regional Australia and highlights key findings and opportunities for action.
Key findings:
- Strong job opportunities: Regional labour markets have low unemployment, strong employment rates among people in their prime working years and a higher rate of job opportunities than major cities.
- Positive work experiences: Many regional workers report high job satisfaction, low underemployment and working arrangements that broadly align with their preferences.
- Skills for the future: Youth tertiary participation remains low in regional Australia, suggesting the regional skills pipeline may not be keeping pace with future workforce needs.
- Removing barriers matters: Better access to housing, transport, childcare, health services and digital connectivity can help more people take up available opportunities.
- Local solutions make a difference: Stronger collaboration between governments, employers, education providers and communities can help address local needs and priorities.
A new regional dashboard brings jobs and skills indicators together to help track outcomes over time, identify local strengths and emerging pressures and support evidence-informed planning and investment.
It provides a consistent way to explore jobs and skills outcomes nationally, across states and territories, and at regional levels. It supports tailored responses that reflect the different needs and opportunities of regional communities.
Webinar
Register for the Why the regions matter: Jobs, skills and opportunity across regional Australia webinar on 17 November.
Our expert panel will discuss the contribution of regional jobs and skills to Australia’s future, the role of education, and how we can strengthen tertiary participation and pathways into learning and work. Join:
- Megan Lilly, JSA Deputy Commissioner
- The Hon Fiona Nash, Regional Education Commissioner / Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) Commissioner
- Dr Xavier Csar, CEO, Regional Development Victoria, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.
This 1-hour webinar will take you through the report’s key components via a panel discussion followed by a Q&A session.
Contact
For assistance, email regionalworkforceassessment@jobsandskills.gov.au.