Competition for skilled workers is currently strong and likely to intensify over the next decade. Job stability, investment in apprentice training, development of career pathways and workforce retention are being undermined by uncoordinated investment decisions across jurisdictions, as well as negative perceptions about the quality of employment opportunities in the sector.
Independent of other economic shifts, the other priorities of the government (including AUKUS, the National Reconstruction Fund and Industry Growth Program-led industrial investments and the shift to net zero and associated infrastructure requirements) will intensify the competition for workers through the life of the strategy and into the next decade.
The workforce is ageing, predominately male, lacks cultural diversity and is not being renewed at sufficient scale. Meanwhile, the skills required by a modern rail manufacturing sector are changing and increasingly need capability in new technologies.
Beyond whole of government coordination of research and planning through Jobs and Skills Australia, and the coordination of industry engagement through Jobs and Skills Councils, the rail manufacturing sector must collaborate to set out a shared approach across businesses, unions, state and territory governments, experts and education institutions to workforce challenges. This includes:
- creating good jobs and sustainable careers which attract and retain high quality new entrants to the industry
- identifying deficits and potential improvements to workplace culture, including a focus on more collaborative workplace relationships, a shared approach to higher productivity and adoption of new technology and skills
- improving the participation of women and under-represented groups through inclusive recruitment and retention strategies, and making the required changes to workplaces
- engaging with other government and industry programs around skills and training to ensure that existing work addresses the needs of the rail manufacturing sector.