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Automotive Skills Australia Environmental Scan 2012

Date : 2012-03-15 10:28:23

Auto Industry – Bigger than you think!

Posted by Auto Skills Australia on 27 February 2012

Contrary to recent claims, Australia’s automotive industry is bigger and far more important than most people realise. Auto Skills Australia (ASA) has just produced a 52 page report into the state of the automotive industry and the national training system in Australia.

The 2012 Automotive Environmental Scan (e-Scan) highlights some interesting results including:

The automotive industry employs almost 387,000 people and contributes approximately $35 billion annually towards the national economy
Automotive repair and maintenance is the largest sector within the automotive industry employing approximately 143,000 people. The motor vehicle and parts manufacturing sector by contrast employs 52,000 people
There are over 64,000 automotive businesses operating nationally in Australia
Attraction of labour is the biggest issue affecting the automotive industry
Evidence suggests a large cohort of automotive labour (approximately 13,000 mechanics) have left the automotive industry and are now providing services to other industries, including mining
Shortages of skilled labour are affecting approximately 47% of automotive businesses. This is expected to rise to 55% during 2012-13.

The e-Scan examines barriers and canvasses potential solutions to many of the issues effecting different sectors with the automotive industry.

Download a pdf of the ASA Environmental Scan

If you would like a printed copy of the Environmental Scan please email info@autoskillsaustralia.com.au

Manufacturing Skills Australia Environmental Scan 2012

Date : 2012-02-22 08:13:07

MSA Environmental Scan 2012

SKILLS FOR JOBS - The Training and Skills Commission's Five Year Plan for Skills and Workforce Development 2011

Date : 2011-12-08 15:12:42

FOREWORD

As we release this year’s plan, we are acutely aware that many South Australian businesses are struggling as a result of global economic conditions, and many workers are worried about their future. We are also confident, however, that South Australia faces a very positive outlook, with unprecedented growth opportunities flowing from major investment in resources and infrastructure.

South Australia must continue to build on its strengths and make sure that our workforce and our workplaces are geared up for the opportunities ahead.

In our previous plans, the Commission made bold recommendations for a reformed education and training system in this state; where skilling opportunities are available to all citizens – whether it is for initial skills, retraining or second chance learning. We are now seeing the first stages of the state government’s response – Skills for All kicking in. It is an exciting time.

As the Commission hands over its regulatory powers to the national regulator, we can focus our efforts more intensely on making sure the suite of reforms being implemented will address the productivity and participation challenges that we are all too familiar with. We will continue to work with the state government to ensure its significant investment under Skills for All is directed towards areas of industry demand and individual need. We will continue to focus on the quality of the VET system – training must provide vocational outcomes for students. The success of the reforms will depend on the capacity of players within the system, and the tools and supporting structures in place to underpin it. We will monitor these areas closely.

The Commission has had its say, the government has responded. It is now time for industry to step up to the challenge and make the most of the opportunities that the funding and structural reforms to our VET system afford. Individuals also need to take charge of their future pathways by engaging with the Skills for All initiatives.

I thank everyone who has contributed to this year’s plan and encourage everyone to engage with enthusiasm in the reforms as they are rolled out.

Mr Adrian Smith

CHAIR

For full publication download file

No More Excuses

Date : 2011-04-11 11:40:27

No More Excuses

Language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) are the essential underpinning skills that enable people to be productive in their work, to continue to learn and develop, and to participate fully in society.This is an obvious statement, the truth of which has been recognised for decades.But it needs to be made, as progress to a satisfactory situation has been slow:

Literally millions of Australians have insufficient LLN skills to benefit fully from training or to participate effectively at work
The situation looks as if it could be getting worse, not better: the LLN performance of Australian students 1 has, over the past decade, worsened in comparison to other OECD countries
Access to LLN expertise at the right time in the right way remains limited.

LLN issues and challenges manifest differently in different industries and workplaces, but some similar challenges are faced across all industries.They include inadequately prepared workforce entrants, the challenges of an ageing workforce, increasing use of technology, increasing compliance requirements, and a demand for higher level skills.This represents a considerable list of potential barriers to learning and to an effective workforce.

The Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) believe that responsibility for building the LLN skills of Australians should be shared by industry and all education sectors.Nothing less than a co-ordinated response to the LLN challenge will succeed.To achieve this, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) should establish an overarching blueprint for action on LLN in Australia 2012-2022 to identify and address long-term goals that will profoundly shift the capacity of learners and the workforce and significantly impact our nation’s future.

More immediately, within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system, ISCs propose:

• better identification of the LLN skills of learners before training, and targeted funding to address identified LLN skill gaps

• the inclusion of clear advice on LLN skill requirements in Training Packages and/or their companion volumes

• the implementation of a strategy to develop greater national awareness of LLN issues, including the de-stigmatisation of LLN skill development

• an increased capacity in the VET system, and all practitioners, to support the LLN skill development needs of learners and workers

• better-targeted solutions for building the LLN skills of workers/learners.

1 Recent results from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey reveal that Australia has seen a decline in the reading and mathematics performance of 15 year olds between 2000 and 2009.

For full report please download file

Manufacturing Skills Australia Environmental Scan 2011

Date : 2011-03-02 14:39:42

The Environmental Scan document is an important vehicle for communicating the workforce development issues and priorities of industry to policy makers and advisors. It provides valuable insight into the recent experiences of enterprises and gives opportunity to reflect on the effectiveness of the vocational education and training (VET) system, in addressing and supporting industry to grow and evolve in the current business climate.

MSA’s report attempts to capture the experiences of the manufacturing and automotive industries. MSA acknowledges that it will not reflect all views from all stakeholders however, it articulates the emerging themes and shared stories gathered from interviews, site visits, surveys, feedback, industry research and countless conversations.

These are presented in four main sections; Latest industry intelligence, Identified workforce development needs, Current impact of Training Packages and Future directions for endorsed components of Training Packages.

Apprenticeships for the 21st Century Expert Panel Final Report

Date : 2011-02-22 09:56:05

Importance of the system
The Australian economy recovered from the most recent global economic downturn more quickly than

expected, benefiting from elevated commodity prices and high levels of public investment. As the focus

of the economy shifts towards recovery and growth, there is concern that our economic growth will be

constrained due to skill shortages.6

6

2010
The Reserve Bank of Australia, http://www.rba.gov.au/publications/smp/2010/aug/html/dom‐eco‐cond.html. The Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development, OECD, Economic Outlook No. 88, November

Skills needs of the economy

For Full Report download file

SKILLS FOR JOBS - The Training and Skills Commission's Five Year Plan for Skills and Workforce Development 2010

Date : 2010-10-05 09:50:39

South Australia is set to experience solid economic growth, potentially at a higher rate than the nation.

But if the state is to profit from this growth and avoid capacity constraints, the Commission believes

South Australia must have in place policies and programs to achieve a more highly qualified and

skilled workforce.

The Commission remains convinced that we must increase the proportion of South Australians with

higher level qualifications, broaden and deepen the state’s skills base, and significantly increase

employment participation.

Using the Economic Development Board’s growth forecasts, the Commission has estimated that

78,000 new jobs will be created over the five-year period of this plan (2008-09 to 2013-14), and the

number of net job openings resulting from replacement demand will be 84,000.

The combined impact of economic growth plus the need to replace workers leaving the workforce or

changing occupations will result in estimated total job openings of about 162,000 over the five years

to 2013-14.

The Commission’s modelling suggests that the combined demand for qualifications from new entrants

and existing workers will amount to an extra 293,000 qualifications over the five-year period.

The projected supply of qualifications is estimated to total 273,000 over the same period, based on

current estimates of public funding (including the extra qualifications generated by the state

government’s election commitment and the current Productivity Places Program), and the extra

qualifications gained through future overseas and interstate migration.

In comparing demand and supply of qualifications, the modelling suggests that within the higher

education sector there is likely to be a significant shortfall of 23,000 qualifications at Bachelor degree

level or higher.

In the vocational education and training sector, there is projected demand for qualifications of 185,000,

which is broadly in line with the projected supply of 188,000. However, there are some significant

imbalances between qualification levels, which will need to be addressed.

The government’s Skills for All proposal released in July 2010, which outlines a 10-point reform program

aimed at creating a fairer, more flexible and modern VET system, has drawn heavily on the policy

proposals of the Commission in its 2009 plan. The Commission commends the government’s intentions

for reform and looks forward to the final policy White Paper due for release later in 2010.

As the government finalises and implements its Skills for All agenda, the Commission urges it to

consider the policy issues discussed in this plan.

For Full Report download file

Forestworks Environmental Scan

Date : 2010-06-11 11:03:38

This Industry Skills Scan has been produced by ForestWorks Learning and Skills Development,

the Industry Skills Council (ISC) for the forest, wood, paper and timber products industry, in consultation with industry stakeholders and participants.

This document is a considered review of the significant and pertinent factors impacting the integrated industry serviced by ForestWorks and the implications of those factors on a range of employment aspects, workforce development and training and skills development considerations.

While the document’s title might imply otherwise, it is not a review of issues of the natural environment (i.e. trees and forests) pertaining to the industry. It is intended to inform government, Skills Australia, the National Quality Council, service providers and industry to enable these organisations to carry out their various responsibilities more effectively during 2010 and beyond.

ForestWorks acknowledges the contributors and thanks them for their efforts in ensuring that this

report accurately reflects the state of play for the industry and its skill needs for 2010 and the years

ahead. This Industry Skills Scan (environmental scan) has been produced with the assistance of funding provided by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

The key objective of this Industry Skills Scan is to provide advice on opportunities for boosting skill

levels to meet identified skill demands. Meeting this objective includes providing information and

data on the critical skills and occupations required, the skills which exist and the skills gaps in each

sector. It also requires analysis of challenges and opportunities currently faced by each sector.

The sectors identified are: forest growing and management, harvesting and haulage, sawmilling

and processing, pulp and paper manufacturing, timber manufactured products, timber merchandising, wood panel and board production.

Case studies demonstrating strengths, challenges and achievements are highlighted in this document.

The forest, wood, paper and timber products industry is a vertically integrated industry, in which

the industry’s resource sectors are closely linked with the processing, manufacturing, wholesale and

retail sectors.

In this section, a brief overview is provided of the industry and its current state of development and

operation. Further analysis is provided on a sector by sector basis in Section Two.

For full report download file

Auatralian Workforce Futures - A National Workforce Development Strategy

Date : 2010-05-14 10:42:49

Australia’s long-term growth prospects and the future nature of our society depend on the skills of our people and the way those skills are used. Our nation risks missing out on the full benefits of future global growth and the dividends from our investment in education unless we urgently commit to a new national approach to workforce development that maximises people’s capabilities, lifts productivity and increases workforce participation.

Australia faces a number of pressing workforce threats and opportunities. Some, like those associated with environmental change and new technology, are global challenges. Others, like demographic change, our economic performance and social inequality are largely national but are just as serious. To position Australia to meet these challenges requires new ways of thinking about skills and knowledge and their application in the workplace and the community. Most immediately, as we look towards economic recovery, employers are already raising concerns about the risk that our economic growth will be constrained once again because

of skill shortages. Looking further ahead, we will need to deepen our skills and lift productivity to enable us to successfully adapt to change and maintain our competitive advantage and a high standard of living, as the emerging economies in our region further

advance and industrialise. With an ageing population, labour shortages are also a risk in the future. We need to significantly increase our current rate of employment participation. Often those who fail to obtain work lack basic employability skills. It is vital that we improve core adult language, literacy and numeracy skills if we are to achieve higher participation rates. Moreover the best

way to improve social inclusion is to ensure that all those who want to work can.

MISAC Apprentice Survey

Date : 2010-05-14 10:13:46

In 2008, the Manufacturing Industry Skills Advisory Council SA Inc (MISAC) commissioned research involving almost 300 apprentices in the South Australian Manufacturing Industry.The research was charged with identifying barriers and incentives related to apprenticeship participation, with a focus on current perceptions about training and a goal of identifying program improvements which could increase apprenticeship commencements and completions.

The primary research was conducted by Colmar Brunton Intelligence, culminating in a report submitted to MISAC in March 2009. This current document summarises the findings of that primary research report, in order to facilitate a broader distribution to stakeholders.

National CEO Survey

Date : 2010-05-14 09:52:54

Businesses across the manufacturing, construction and services sectors are confident though cautious about prospects during 2010. The year is looking to be a 2010 is expected to see improvement in activity in all three sectors though it is likely to be stronger in the services and manufacturing sectors than the construction sector. While improving, growth in manufacturing is coming from a low base following a sharp contraction for most of the past eighteen months. The global economy will see moderate growth in 2010, with those firms exposed to the faster growing emerging economies such as China faring better than Domestically, firm performance will reflect the impact of positive drivers such as improving consumer confidence in incomes growth and employment prospects, rising household wealth and exposure to strong growth in China. Offsetting these positives will be the fading of Government stimulus, rising interest rates and the adverse impacts of the stronger dollar on import-competing and exporting businesses. Wages and prices growth in all sectors look set to remain modest. This is in line with the forecasts for overall activity outlined by the CEOs in this survey.

Manufacturing Skills Australia Environmental Scan 2010

Date : 2010-04-06 12:16:45

Manufacturing Skills Australia’s (MSA’s) Environmental Scan 2010 aims to capture the stories and experiences of manufacturing and automotive enterprises over 2009 and give insights into the industry’s priorities for 2010. It is designed to provide anecdotal, qualitative information to inform industry and government workforce development policies and initiatives. While it considers research findings of some of industry’s key stakeholders, it is not intended to replicate statistical research. Rather, MSA’s Environmental Scan should be received as an ongoing story, building upon and updating previous Environmental Scan documents and bringing together information gathered during 2009 from a variety of sources including surveys, interviews, site visits, feedback and the continual conversations with those working within manufacturing and automotive industries.

Twelve months ago, manufacturers and retailers were tightening belts and bracing for the inevitable impact of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), yet another serious challenge for an already embattled industry. Job losses and plant closures were beginning to hit the headlines and enterprises were looking to multiple strategies to help navigate the storm. Survival was the key focus – not just for individual enterprises, but for industry in Australia as a whole, and skills and capability retention was a major driver of many of the strategies that industry adopted.

Turning into 2010, the business climate is beginning to gain some optimism, and there are clear signs that some of those strategies have been working. But the manufacturing and automotive industries are still walking a tight rope to solid ground and most believe we

are still at a critical stage in ensuring that Australia remains 'a country which makes things’.

For full report download file

Skills for Jobs Priorities for Developing South Australia's Workforce

Date : 2010-03-03 14:27:42

Raising the skill levels of South Australians.Increasing the number of South Australians with post school qualifications.Increasing employment participation.

South Australia’s ability to prosper in the 21st Century depends on the skills of its population.

The State is emerging from the global economic crisis relatively unscathed and primed to move

forward. The outlook is buoyant with significant expansion expected in key areas such as mining and

defence, and opportunities created by climate change and renewable energy.

To ensure the State capitalises on this opportunity for strong and sustainable economic growth

requires a dynamic and flexible skills base – one that responds rapidly to industry transformation and

new directions.

The challenge is to increase the number of South Australians with higher level qualifications to support

this growth, while addressing issues of an ageing population and the changing nature of the workplace.

In this Skills for Jobs Plan, the Training and Skills Commission proposes fundamental changes to the

State’s post school education and training system.

Training Today for Tomorrow - Challenging the VET Sysytem in SA

Date : 2009-12-02 16:41:12

Business SA, as South Australia's leading business organisation, represents many thousand of businesses across all industry sectors, ranging in size from micro-business to multinational companies.

Skills and workforce development issues at the state and national level present both a challenge and an opportunity to the South Australian business community and it is in this regard that Business SA's Training Today for Tomorrow has been developed.

While talk of economic recovery ebbs and flows, productivity in Australia will always rely on a highly skilled and educated workforce.

A vibrant, resourceful and innovative education and training sector is criticle to a buoyant South Australian economy, if we are to fully capitalise on future opportunities.

Now is not the time to be complacent. Instead, it's time for change - bold change.

To provide certainty for business and ensure our prosperity continues well into the foreseeable future, there is no doubt that now is the time for a courageous and resolute approach to changes in education and training in South Australia.

In the wake of national vocational education and training developments, the State Government is putting steps in place to tackle skill challenges with its “Skills for Jobs” plan. However significant reform will be needed to have a major impact on the future of South Australia’s ability to be competitive in a global marketplace.

Unfortunately, current reform measures fail to address a number of persistent legislative, operational and procedural issues that continue to inhibit the effective operation of the vocational education and training system in South Australia.

This document is a call to action to ensure that in future the State has the right skills, at the right time, at the right level, delivered in the right way and at the right cost.

Business SA invites South Australia’s key decision makers to heed and endorse the recommendations contained in Trainng Today for Tomorrow.

Robert Atkins

Business SA President

A Country that makes things

Date : 2009-11-02 16:38:37

BUILDING A STRONGER MORE PROSPEROUS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA

Workforce Futures

Date : 2009-10-30 15:03:18

Papers to Promote Discussion

Towards an Australian Workforce Development Strategy

Skills Australia

Overview Paper

Foreword

On behalf of the members of Skills Australia I am pleased to launch Workforce Futures to frame national consultations on how to best meet the nation’s future skill needs. This paper is part of a suite of material developed to stimulate discussion about key issues that will shape Australia’s future workforce and our skills response.
The focus of Workforce Futures is on better realising the productive potential of education and skills—for Australia as a whole, and for the individuals for whom education plays a big part in determining their working careers and financial well-being.
Education is our most important investment to equip individuals to thrive in a rapidly changing world. It creates the conditions for Australia to widen its social, economic and industrial potential to develop a creative, knowledge-rich and sustainable economy.
Workforce Futures presents a case for a changed focus in how Australia approaches planning for our future skills and better utilising them to contribute to improved wellbeing.
The material is the culmination of discussion and stakeholder engagement, scenario planning workshops and extensive analysis guided by the expertise of our Steering Group. We have also had significant input from industry through the Strategic Industry Forum and its working group. The intention is to continue discussions to ‘reality check’ our emerging thinking. This will provide a way forward for a shared framework on workforce development.
Our aim is to use the outcomes from consultations to develop an Australian Workforce Development Strategy that builds on the good work already going on across the country in a wide range of agencies and in states and territories.
We are keen to hear your views and welcome written submissions on Workforce Futures by 6 November 2009.
We look forward to working with you on this important area and value your contribution.
Philip Bullock
Chair
Skills Australia
September 2009
Workforce Futures: Overview 1

Manufacturing Skills Australia Automotive Environmental Scan Update

Date : 2009-10-30 13:32:39

This Automotive Industry Environmental Scan 2009 is a documentation of the conditions and workforce challenges that are facing the automotive industry at this time. Its objective is to provide meaningful industry intelligence to inform industry and government workforce development policies and initiatives.

Following a decision by the Deputy Prime Minister in March 2009, Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) accepted responsibility for the development of the automotive industry’s workforce capacity. This includes gathering automotive industry intelligence, developing and maintaining national Training Packages and ensuring that automotive enterprises have the right skills to meet current and future

workforce needs.

This report is based on information gathered since April 2009 from a variety of sources including surveys, interviews, site visits, feedback, desk research and the many conversations MSA people have had with stakeholders at all levels of industry. The focus is on anecdotal, qualitative information, to tell the stories sometimes lost in statistical data collections. MSA is continuing to conduct research to further inform its activity and deepen its understanding of the automotive industry workforce development needs.

Sustainable Manufacturing - Unpacking the Issues

Date : 2009-09-21 12:12:11

Apprentices and Trainees Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics

Date : 2009-08-04 09:16:48

This annual publication provides a summary of training activity in apprenticeships and traineeships in Australia, from the period 1998 to 2008, including information on training rates, attrition rates, completion rates, training within the trades and duration of training.

NCVER Report download here

The 2008 South Australian Apprentice Survey: What it means for SA Manufacturing

Date : 2009-07-01 14:27:02

Summary Report:

In 2008, the Manufacturing Industry Skills Advisory Council SA Inc (MISAC) commissioned research

involving almost 300 apprentices in the South Australian Manufacturing Industry.

The research was charged with identifying barriers and incentives related to apprenticeship participation,

with a focus on current perceptions about training and a goal of identifying program improvements which

could increase apprenticeship commencements and completions.

The primary research was conducted by Colmar Brunton Intelligence, culminating in a report submitted to

MISAC in March 2009. This current document summarises the findings of that primary research report, in

order to facilitate a broader distribution to stakeholders.

Summary Report. The 2008 South Australian Apprentice Survey: What it means for SA Manufacturing

Skills for jobs plan

Date : 2009-06-23 11:49:32

Skills for Jobs, a plan for skills and workforce development.

The Commission has developed its first Five Year Plan for Skills and Workforce Development, Skills for Jobs, which is a key element of the State Government’s Skills Strategy for South Australia’s Future, announced in 2008.

The Plan outlines areas in which the State needs to invest to maximise training and create sustainable employment opportunities, and identifies three key challenges to meet skills needs.

These challenges are to substantially increase the proportion of South Australians with higher level qualifications; to broaden and deepen our skill base; and to significantly improve employment participation.

The Plan was developed following consultations with industry and other key stakeholders, and after considering the positions of the Economic Development Board and the Social Inclusion Board on skills and workforce issues.

A second Plan will be published in November which will outline the actions required to ensure the availability of the necessary skills to support the future growth and diversification of the South Australian economy. It will directly inform the Government’s resource allocation plan.

Skills for Jobs Plan

Manufacturing Industry Environmental Scan 2009 - Manufacturing Skills Australia

Date : 2009-03-18 01:52:01

Download Report

Forestworks Environmental Scan

Date : 2009-02-24 08:57:59

Review of Australian Higher Education - Australian Government, Final Report

Date : 2008-12-29 10:00:00

Australia faces a critical moment in the history of higher education. There is an international consensus that the reach, quality and performance of a nation’s higher education system will be key determinants of its economic and social progress. If we are to maintain our high standard of living, underpinned by a robust democracy and a civil and just society, we need an outstanding, internationally competitive higher education system.

Download Report

Skilling the Existing Workforce - Australian Industry Group, Final Project Report

Date : 2008-12-29 09:00:00

Skilling the existing workforce has emerged as a critical priority for Australian industry and Australian governments.

Skills shortages and technological and demographic change mean that now, more than ever, many of the skills needed by Australian business must come from the existing workforce.

Download Project Report