Media Release: 22nd August 2024
The Capital Group on behalf of National Skills Week
Future Skills Organisation releases 2024 Workforce Plan: Growing cyber security threat also signals increased opportunity
Digital skills in more demand nationally than ever, says industry leader
22 August 2024 – The Australian Government backed Future Skills Organisation focused on finance, technology and business (FTB) job opportunities recently released its 2024 workforce plan titled Building a Skilled Workforce which showed that digital skills in now more in demand nationally than ever.
The 130-page report considers how Vocational Education and Training (VET) bodies and other education providers are meeting the growing demand for digitally literate workers in finance, technology or business occupations where approximately three million people (or around one in five Australian workers) are already employed.
Future Skills Organisation CEO Patrick Kidd said, “In addition to desktop research about FTB skills needs and wants across Australia we surveyed industry members to gather their thoughts about the current training framework and establish where they saw a need for future growth.
“Generative AI was identified as a major technological shift impacting the FTB sector where current capability needs improvement, but also as an opportunity for increased productivity and competitive advantage. Industry members also indicated they would like to see more work-based learning and short-form training options to enable workers to transition into and out of occupations. VET providers are hearing this message.”
Mr Kidd added, “Complex information storage systems continue to fall victim to phishing, criminal or other malicious actions, and firewalls as we all know are far from infallible. The 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy recently released by the Department of Home Affairs will further stimulate demand for information technology staff, and cyber security specialists especially.
“The whole of nation approach designed to better protect our public and private organisations represents a paradigm shift. It’s apparent we will need all training avenues at our disposal to meet this growing demand for cyber security. VET courses and teachers themselves will also need to adapt to this shift in direction, so course offerings stay aligned with FTB student and sector needs.”
More broadly, technological occupations are found across the Australian economy, and skill needs within these occupations are changing rapidly. A little-known fact is most technological occupations (62 per cent) are employed outside the direct tech sector (Sources: four quarter average (Aug 22 – May 23), ABS Detailed Labour Force Survey (Table EQ08); ABS Census 2021 (Employment and Income data) – Tablebuilder; Accenture analysis).
FTB stakeholders have reported a strong desire to shift towards a skills-driven approach to workforce planning, consistently emphasising the importance of skills over job titles. This perspective is partly driven by increasing demand for digital capability, a more dynamic workforce, and the impact of Generative AI. The Future Skills Organisation expects this will be a more central focus of its 2025 Workforce Plan.
Six business occupations are currently in shortage (source: JSA, 2023 Skills Priority List). Industry expects further changes in the skills required for business occupations. Business occupations constitute around 1.4 million workers across the economy in every industry sector, notably in professional, scientific and technical services (16 per cent of business occupations) and health care and social assistance (14 per cent) (Sources: four quarter average (Aug 22 – May 23), ABS Detailed Labour Force Survey (Table EQ08); ABS Census 2021 (Employment and Income data) – Tablebuilder; Accenture analysis).
On average, technology and business occupations in Australia have grown at least 1.5 times faster than all other occupations since 1986, and this demand is set to continue.
Four key FTB sector challenges identified in the workforce plan:
- Changed occupational design: Occupational descriptions are largely the same but with increasing demands for digital skills. Proficiency in digital skills is already required in many occupations and will grow in importance as new technologies evolve and become even more commonplace
- Skills needs are rapidly changing: FTB occupation skills changes are expected to accelerate due to the impact of new technologies, especially GAI. There is a strong desire from industry for more short-form training, work-based learning and increased alignment with vendor certifications
- Tertiary pathways seen as more desirable: Industry members surveyed appear to prefer university entry pathways into many FTB occupations likely due to poor perceptions or lack of understanding of the VET sector.
- Skilled (and diverse) candidate supply constraints: Industry members reported skilled workforce supply is too slow and the training system is not responsive enough to changing skills needs which results in training being out of date by the time it is commenced / completed. A lack of diversity in the FTB sector exacerbates shortages, with a very low proportion of First Nations people across FTB and, in tech, a very low proportion of women participating in the workforce.
Kai Bahartha-King, Joondalup, Western Australia
Award/s: Vocational Student of the Year 2023 (Finalist)
Current Occupation: Cyber Security Analyst
Training Completed: Certificate III in Information, Digital Media, Technology (Cyber Security), Certificate IV in Cyber Security and Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security
Main Career Goals: I am currently training for an international competition in cyber security. As a competitor I am representing my country. I am training to try and win it.
I also am training to advance my career in Cyber Security and improve my communication and media skills.
How has your award helped you with what you are doing now? My award has helped me with public speaking, media training (interviews etc) and speaking about my career and pathway confidently to inspire more people of any age groups into Cyber Security or to pursue different careers through TAFE.
How has VET changed your life: I was able to enter my dream job at the age of 16 through the VET/TAFE pathway.
I was home educated by both my parents and was able to find my passion as Cyber Security as early as 14 years of age.
TAFE helped me learn new skills and improve my capabilities as a Cyber Security professional. My lecturers gave my every opportunity for me to pursue my passion and even recommended me for my current job!
They also got me into my competition as a National Competitor for WA which I won Gold with my WA teammate.
Joe Kellie, Darwin
Achievements: Trainee of the Year Northern Territory 2023
Current Occupation: Associate Network Engineer
Training Completed: Certificate II, III, and IV in Information Technology. ITILv4 Foundations.
Main Career Goal: Would love to pursue my career into software development/programming. Currently studying for the Cisco Certified Networking Associate and CompTIA Security+ exams
How has the award helped you with what you are doing now:
The award has me put me in a position to share my story with others and highlight the achievements I have undertaken through VET, becoming a role model for others to look up to and giving me the confidence to be more outgoing.
How did VET change your life: VET has enabled me to get into the workforce early whilst allowing me to focus on my interests throughout my school years. Due to the occupation VET has landed me, I have been able to afford a home with my father, giving us sustainable housing we did not have before.
Bradley Maynard, Launceston
Achievements:
- 2023 – Australian Training Awards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year – Finalist
- 2023 – Tasmanian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year – Winner
Current Occupation: Safety Manager at a structural steel fabrication and construction Shipyard in Hobart.
Training Backstory: Completed to year 11, Apprenticeship – Certificate III Engineering Tradesperson – Boilermaker/Welder, Certificate IV In Project Management 2020 Certificate IV & Diploma in Leadership and Management,- through defence- 2023 Certificate IV in Work Health & Safety 2022, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment 2023
Main Career Goal: Currently studying a Diploma in Work Health and Safety, once completed I’m looking at studying my Diploma of Construction Management.
How did VET change your life: VET has shaped my life from when I first completed my apprenticeship as a Boilermaker/Welder, to where I ‘am today as a Safety Manager looking after almost 300 employees. I’m constantly striving to improve my knowledge by studying, I’m passionate about training and have been assisting others on finding their pathways through the VET sector.
Rebecca Hope, Eaglemont 3084
Awards / Accomplishments:
- 2023 – Australian Training Awards Trainee of the Year – Finalist
- 2023 – Victorian Trainee of the Year – Winner
- 2022 – Apprenticeship Employment Network Apprentice Training Awards – Inspiration Award: Disability Achievement – Winner
- 2020 – Holmesglen Awards – Outstanding Individual Achievement Award – Finalist
Current Role: Program Coordinator at Amaze.
Training Backstory: Completed a range of formal TAFE qualifications over the years. In her final year of school, she commenced a Certificate II in Animal Studies at Box Hill Institute as part of the VET in Schools program and continued with this the year after leaving school alongside a Foundation VCAL course at Holmesglen Institute. Following successful completion of these courses, Rebecca moved into the Certificate I in Work Education also run by Holmesglen. This was meant to involve a nine-month placement at the Royal Melbourne Hospital however this was severely impacted by COVID, so instead they were given the opportunity to complete our Certificate II in Community Services throughout the second half of 2020.
Placements got underway eventually, with Rebecca spending five weeks in the hospital’s HR department and deciding on more study in this area. This led her to complete two consecutive traineeships – the first in quality control at a private recruitment firm whilst studying a Certificate III in Business, and the second in the Victorian Government where she undertook a Certificate IV in Business. Rebecca then did some short courses including first aid, health and safety representative training and Introduction to the NDIS.
Main Career Goal: Rebecca hopes to continue to expand upon her existing skillset by involving herself in other areas of the organisation where she works, such as learning more about their communications and digital marketing program and contributing to recruitment and onboarding activities (the last of which formed a considerable part of her government traineeship). Rebecca would also like to occupy a more senior position within the company through further business studies.
Bridie Searle, Newcastle
Awards / Accomplishments: NSW Trainee of the Year 2023
Current Role: Project Supervisor, Thales Australia
Qualifications: Certificate IV in Project Management Practice
RTO: Australian College of Commerce & Management
Employer: Thales Australia Limited
In 2022, Bridie had never been on a ship. Today, Bridie is responsible for managing
million-dollar maritime projects with Thales Australia Limited in the Above Water Systems business, something made possible through her vocational pathway.
After securing a traineeship, Bridie began her Certificate IV in Project Management Practice at the Australian College of Commerce & Management. “I’ve always been a hands-on learner,” she says. “The balance of theory and practical work offers an unmatched training program – it was pivotal to my success.”
Guidance from her colleagues and trainers went a long way, too. “I’m extremely lucky to be working alongside men and women with upwards of 40 years’ experience,” says Bridie. “The skills they bring to the table are unparalleled and they supported me immensely.
She earned even more respect due to the pace with which she’s excelled in her traineeship. Bridie’s Training and Capability Manager describes Bridie as the “most sought-after Project Superintendent within our company” and a next-generation leader.
Currently, Bridie’s day-to-day role could see her working on Destroyers, guided missiles or being a wharf and crane co-ordinator. “It’s been fantastic, and I’ve picked up so many skills that are transferable across multiple roles and industries,” says Bridie.
Cyrus Wren, Canberra
Achievements:
- 2023 – Australian Training Awards Trainee of the Year – Runner-up
- 2023 – ACT Trainee of the Year – Winner
- 2022 – Young Canberra Citizen of the Year – Finalist
- 2022 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Personal Achievement Award – Highly Commended Finalist
- 2021 – ACT Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year – Finalist
Current Occupation: Vocational Learning Programs Coordinator – ACT Education Directorate
Training Completed: Certificate III Business 2021 in Year 12. through Group training- Australian Training Company. and Diploma of Project Management – 2023- as a trainee as GTO, Wisdom learning.
Main Career Goal: I wish to pursue further training, including a Certificate IV Training and Assessment, Diploma of Leadership and Management and a Diploma of Business. I hope to continue working within the VET sector, with an ambitious goal of one day starting my own GTO specifically focusing on providing employment services to mature aged people. Ultimately, I wish to continue my professional development in the form of formal study, with broader goals of positively contributing to the VET sector both within the ACT and on a national scale.
How has your award helped you with what you are doing now: A large part of my role involves spending time within ACT public schools delivering presentations on the advantages of undertaking a VET pathway, with a broader goal of encouraging students to undertake a school-based apprenticeship. My award gives me more credibility as an ambassador and helps me communicate the advantages of VET to the audience. My award has also opened professional doors for me and provided me with fantastic networking opportunities via the VET Alumni.
How has VET changed your life: VET has provided me with a pathway to break the cycle, and not follow in my family’s footsteps. Growing up, I was a disengaged student getting into trouble, surrounded my bad influences and had no pathway. VET has allowed me to overcome this and become a fulltime public servant earning a good wage, who positively impacts ACT public school students and the broader ACT community.
Issued by The Capital Group as part of National Skills Week 2024
About the Future Skills Organisation:
The FSO is driven by a Board and Members from across the finance, technology and business sectors with representatives from large and small employers, unions, and peak associations representing metro, regional and rural businesses.
FSO Board and Members work with training providers, learners and government to co-design innovation and change across the finance, technology and business sectors. Six independent directors come from finance, insurance, IT and banking. Equal numbers of employer and employee/trade union representative directors guide the organisation.
Interviews options:
Brian Wexham, Chair, National Skills Week
Patrick Kidd, CEO Future Skills Organisation
Sarah Pilcher, Employer Representative Director, Australian Industry Group
VET Alumni Success Stories above.