This report provides a detailed look at Australia’s workforce landscape, with a focus on future skills, opportunities and challenges. It finds over 90% of employment growth in the next 10 years will be in jobs that need post-secondary qualifications, however, only half of that growth will be in university-qualified roles.

The report highlights the importance of inclusive participation in the workforce, particularly for disadvantaged groups, and emphasises the need for a more harmonised tertiary education system to meet future workforce demands. 

The report aims to guide decision-making across government, industry, and education and training providers to address these challenges and prepare for future workforce needs. 

This report outlines evidence and analysis across five strategic pillars:

1. fostering inclusive participation,
2. building the evidence base to inform and address current and emerging labour market and skills needs, 
3. projecting forward to plan for the opportunities and challenges of our nation’s future workforce needs,
4. optimising pathways and system architecture, and
5. activating an informed dialogue by convening stakeholders across the skills system. 

Key findings

• Australia's workforce is transitioning towards higher-skilled roles, driven by a growing services sector and technological advancements.
• Shortages in skilled occupations persist across various industries, with key drivers including insufficient qualified workers, working conditions, and pay.
• Regional and remote areas often experience weaker labour market conditions compared to metropolitan cities.
• Certain groups, such as First Nations people, people with disability, and international graduates, continue to face barriers to participation in the workforce.
• New roles are emerging, particularly in fields like healthcare, technology, and renewable energy, driven by demographic shifts, technological advancements, and the transition to a net-zero economy.