Future Skills Organisation launches Workforce Plan to drive diversity and skills development in the Finance, Technology, and Business industries.
Media Release - 29 July 2024
Future Skills Organisation (FSO) today unveiled its ‘Workforce Plan 2024: Agenda for Action’, a comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming Australia's finance, technology, and business industries.
The Agenda for Action focuses on addressing critical skills gaps and creating opportunities for diverse individuals in rapidly evolving industries.
Key initiatives include:
Boosting diversity and inclusion
Increasing the representation of women, people with disability and First Nations people
Highlighting the need for pathways for underrepresented groups to enter these industries
Enhancing vocational education and training (VET)
Promoting VET as a strong career pathway
Improving the relevance of training to industry needs
Adapting to technological advancements
Preparing the workforce for emerging technologies, including generative AI
Aligning skills development with changing industry requirements
Yasmin Allen AM, Chair and Independent Director of FSO, said: "Our workforce plan outlines priority areas recommended by industry leaders to address the evolving skills needs of these dynamic sectors."
The report reveals that finance, technology, and business industries employ almost 1.5 million Australians, representing 11.5% of the national workforce. These industries have low proportions of workers with VET qualifications as their highest qualification (24.5%, 18.5%, and 20.9%, respectively). This highlights a significant opportunity to promote VET as a valuable and viable pathway into these industries .
Patrick Kidd OBE OAM, Chief Executive Officer of FSO, added: “Our Agenda for Action includes proposals to increase vocational training enrolments across all genders and priority cohorts and improve the suitability of these training packages for industry needs."
The FSO has already initiated six projects to enhance Australia’s digital capability based on previous research. Additional projects informed by this new workforce plan are under consideration.
ENDS
View the ‘Workforce Plan 2024: Agenda for Action’ here.
Contact:
Caity Simm
caity@futureskillsorganisation.com.au
0424278752
About the Future Skills Organisation
The Future Skills Organisation (FSO) is a Jobs and Skills Council funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Our role is to make vocational training a preferred choice for learning finance, technology and business skills by partnering with industry and the vocational training sector to fast-track innovative training solutions which meet the demand for the most important skills.