Skills Insight has released its Workforce Plan 2025–2026. The plan sets out a shared vision of workforce priorities and strategies to address key challenges and skill needs across the agribusiness, fibre, furnishing, food, animal and environment care industries.
The Workforce Plan was formally launched by the Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Skills and Training, at Skills Insight’s Stakeholder Forum on 17 September, attended by key industry and peak body representatives.
“Skills Insight is playing a pivotal part in bringing employers, unions and governments together to find solutions to skills and workforce challenges that Australia’s agribusiness and related industries face,” Minister Giles said.
Minister Giles recognised the significance of the industries that the Workforce Plan supports and their vital contribution to Australia’s economy, food security, environment and regional, rural and remote communities.
The Workforce Plan aligns with commitments in the National Skills Agreement and the Government’s vision for sustained and inclusive employment, as outlined in Working Future.
It also draws on statistical data, industry insights and Skills Insight’s own research. The Plan explores critical workforce challenges and opportunities in attraction and retention, and in enabling education and training. These insights point to the importance of a ‘virtuous circle’, where skilling, productivity, professionalisation, and workforce attraction and retention reinforce one another.
Jessica Hocking, Acting CEO of Skills Insight, highlighted that the Workforce Plan sets out four priorities shaped through industry collaboration.
“Workforce planning is an ongoing JSC process that develops a shared vision and identifies where action is most needed. The priorities in this year’s Workforce Plan of leadership, skills needs, accessibility, and data and evidence will guide Skills Insight’s activities over the coming year,” said Jessica.
“This year’s Workforce Plan will be complemented by an online interactive data dashboard. In the coming months, 13 industry-specific webpages will be launched, along with additional data and insights on this year’s themes, to inform and support stakeholders across the skills ecosystem.”
Skills Insight is one of 10 Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs), a national network of industry owned and led not-for-profit organisations. JSCs collaborate on practical workforce solutions to align training with real-world needs across broad industry groupings, supporting Australians to have the right skills and training for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
