News

South Australia has a number of major, multi-generational projects on the horizon, from AUKUS to the Hydrogen Jobs Plan, to government infrastructure projects such as the Torrens to Darlington interchange, the Osborne Precinct expansion, the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and the landmark Housing Roadmap.

To realise the benefits of these projects, as well as meeting existing skill needs across a number of sectors, the state will need thousands of new, highly skilled workers – and more than half of these will need vocational education and training (VET) qualifications.

The Jobs and Skills Outlook is an annual publication that highlights the industries with the greatest current and future demand for skilled workers. It acts as a guide for government and industry to invest in skills, training and workforce development, and for South Australians to choose the qualifications that will result in the right skills, leading to secure, well-paid jobs.

This year’s Outlook identifies that around 146,000 qualifications will be required to meet the state’s demand for skills over the five years to 2028.

• Health and care – South Australia’s largest employing industry, supporting an estimated 170,300 jobs and representing 17.9 per cent of the state’s total employment. All health and care roles highlighted in the Outlook are listed as having a ‘strong’ level of future demand.

• Construction – there are 77,300 construction industry workers in South Australia, representing 8.1 per cent of total employment. New housing and major public infrastructure projects demand a healthy pipeline of skilled workers across construction management, trade and skilled labourer roles.
• Defence and manufacturing – South Australia’s manufacturing sector employs around 71,100 workers. Building local capability and transitioning to more hi-tech, automated and sustainable manufacturing processes will be vital to delivering on the major defence projects slated for our state.

A skills system based on partnerships with employers and key government agencies, evidence-based planning, high quality providers, and a strong focus on learner wellbeing and completions will best position the state to deliver the skilled workforce required.

The South Australian Government is prioritising significant investment into the vocational education and training sector.

The 2024-25 State Budget includes a record amount of skills funding – an additional $692.6 million over five years, lifting total investment under the new National Skills Agreement to $2.3 billion, in partnership with the Australian Government.

One way that we can equip people with the right skills and qualifications is by partnering with industry to upskill existing workers through specialised skills development projects.

Through the latest round of Skill Shortage Solutions grants, the Department of State Development (DSD) has awarded more than $1.7 million to nine industry-led projects to upskill South Australians in occupations including construction (electricians, bricklayers, plumbers, flooring and sheet metal tradespeople), cookery and hairdressing.

Each project has a focus on increasing workforce diversity, supporting women and First Nations people – as well as those not currently engaged in training or employment – into promising career pathways.

For example, in the $170,000 pilot Trading Futures project, delivered by MEGT, jobseekers recently released from prison are supported into sheet metal apprenticeships, which encompasses in-demand trades like structural steel and welding, metal fitting and machinist, and carpenter and joinery.

Industry will be a key partner in working with government to align training investment with skill needs and developing the workforce we need to meet demands now and for decades to come.

Chris Zielinski is the A/Head of Skills SA, which is tasked with enabling a quality training ecosystem, responding to current and emerging industry skills needs, promoting VET pathways, and connecting more South Australians with sustainable career opportunities.