Low exposure to industry and career awareness Imogen Coe currently works on a dairy farm in NSW where they milk 260-280 cows a year. She had no family background in farming and minimal exposure at school yet has been active in pursuing a career in agriculture. “I’m a bit of an animal lover, but I didn’t grow up…
The Productivity Commission has delivered its Five pillars of productivity inquiry reports and National Competition Policy analysis 2025 to government. Skills Insight welcomed the inquiries and contributed stakeholder perspectives through submissions to the interim and final reports, as well as direct engagement with the Commission. The reports identify a range of important issues, including regional,…
Skills Insight is collecting examples of AI use across the industries we support to inform the Australian Government’s National AI Plan. We are particularly interested in short stories that illustrate what prompted the use of AI, how it was applied, what changed as a result, what skills were needed or developed, and what support would…
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will soon open consultations on the next update to the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA). How an occupation is described in the OSCA can influence whether it appears on national skills lists used by the Government to identify which occupations are eligible for funding and support. Your contributions…
Have your say on occupational shortages through Jobs and Skills Australia’s (JSA’s) 2026 Occupation Shortage List (OSL) Survey. Your input will help JSA identify occupations where employers struggle to fill job vacancies. This information will be used to determine eligibility for government support programs, such as the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List and Core Skills Occupations…
Skills Insight was honored to attend and share in celebrating the 2025 Australian Training Awards, held on Friday 5 December at the Darwin Convention Centre. Among the finalists were individuals and organisations making significant contributions to industries we support. Dion Sands, a proud descendant of the Gunggandji people, was awarded runner up Aboriginal and Torres Strait…
Jobs and Skills Australia is inviting stakeholders to participate in the 2026 Occupation Shortage List (OSL) Survey. This is your chance to share insights on labour market trends and help ensure the accuracy and relevance of the upcoming OSL. The survey will open on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, and close on Wednesday, 18 March 2026. If…
Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released the latest VET National Data Asset (VNDA) report. The results show VET graduates continue to receive immense benefit from their qualifications. Importantly, this includes First Nations people, women and people with disability. VNDA uses a range of data to track changes to students’ income, employment and reliance on income support, both before and after training. This financial year, graduates had a median income uplift of $14,100 and earned a…
Skills Insight welcomes the Queensland Government’s support for 15 schools joining the Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools Program. The program connects students and teachers with farmers, agri-tech innovators and industry leaders, providing hands-on experience and clearer pathways to careers in the agricultural industries. Initiatives like this are vital for attracting and retaining the next generation of skilled workers.
The Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare MP introduced legislation to establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). A key objective is to break down silos between VET and university education and expand access for disadvantaged students. ATECs establishment was a headline recommendation from the 2022-23 Australian Universities Accord; a 12-month review of Australia’s higher education system. The Commission is tasked with creating a better and fairer tertiary education system that delivers for students and on…
The Australian Government has announced changes to the employer incentives for priority apprenticeships. The changes will reshape how financial support is distributed across different occupations, with impacts on many of the industries we support. Industries within the identified Key Apprenticeship Program (KAP) will receive additional support, while those not within the identified KAPs may receive reduced levels of support. The government is extending its $5,000 financial incentive for employers who engage apprentices in the KAP sectors of…
Skills Insight has responded to the discussion paper on a Revised Methodology for the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List. Our submission, informed by engagement and research, highlights concerns that the proposed methodology could systematically disadvantage essential industries and the communities they support. Notably, sixteen additional occupations within Skills Insight’s coverage risk exclusion from the Priority List if…
Australia’s labour market is undergoing significant structural change, with growing demand for higher-skilled roles and emerging technologies reshaping work. Through our engagement with industry and training leaders, we continue to hear the pressing need for improved matching between the skills Australians bring and the opportunities available to them, particularly for underrepresented groups. The Jobs and…
Jobs and Skills Australia has released the annual Occupation Shortage List (OSL), for 2025. According to this year’s list, 29% of occupations were in national shortage, down from a peak of 36% in 2023. The OSL identifies which occupations are in shortage and where, providing information to inform government decision making and support. It includes…
