Skills must keep pace with work
BUSINESS leaders are warning tertiary and work- based training must be increased to avoid a looming skills shortage as major projects ramp up.
Downer representative Trent Briggs told a Townsville Industry Breakfast this week it was advertising 20 trade positions for its projects and that many opportunities would occur for businesses as more projects commenced.
Downer is short- listed for a Shoalwater Bay defence remediation project, is involved projects at Lavarack Barracks and Macrossan Camp, is completing construction of a Clare solar farm and is about to start construction of the Ross River solar farm.
Townsville Chamber of Commerce board member Michael Kopittke said the region’s labour market was rapidly improving.
He said the region needed to maximise the benefits of the recovery by getting as many people as possible, particularly the young, into work and avoid the difficulties seen in the last mining boom when trade businesses lacked labour.
“We already know the demands for civil engineers, riggers, electricians, crane drivers and IT specialists exceeds what we have available locally right now,” Mr Kopittke said.
“We can also predict those now in lower skilled jobs will look to move up to trade jobs and we will end up with a shortage of baristas, store attendants and taxi drivers.”
The chamber is pushing state and federal representatives to boost funding for training, urging employers to engage to boost work- based training places and for training organisations to respond to market demand.
It has held meetings with Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke, federal MP Cathy O’Toole and senior representatives from TAFE Queensland North and Tec- NQ.
TAFE Queensland North Region general manager Joanne Pyne said TAFE Queensland was focused on improving regional prosperity and development.
“Skilled workers add value to business operations and TAFE Queensland is commit- ted to identifying and providing the right training for future skill needs,” Ms Pyne said.
Tec- NQ provides training to Year 11 and 12 students with work- based placements with employers.
Tec- NQ manager for stakeholder engagement Jo Hoskins said their programs had been successful in moving young people from school to work but they needed more apprenticeship places.
“We have good support from our employer networks,” Ms Hoskins said.
“What we need now are apprenticeship opportunities so students can continue their training post- graduation.”
While Tec- NQ facilitated two thirds of the region’s school- based apprenticeships, only half of the graduating students were currently signed up.
Mr Kopittke urged more businesses to engage with training providers.
“Work with us, TAFE and Tec- NQ to prepare our young people for these opportunities,” Mr Kopittke said.
“Young people need to have work experience during their schooling and employers need to have confidence the young people they employ are work- ready.”