Workforce reports highlight skills shortages in Australia and the UK

New reports from Australia and the United Kingdom highlight critical challenges regarding workforce skills and training investment.

In Australia, Master Builders Australia released its Future Workforce Blueprint, identifying a structural shortage of 141,000 skilled construction workers. The analysis suggests that the gap cannot be resolved quickly through training alone. To address this, the organization proposed four priority policy interventions: a Commonwealth payroll tax rebate on apprenticeship wages, the expansion of Group Training Organisations, reforms to Recognition of Prior Learning to activate existing qualified workers, and the implementation of a Construction Training Bond. CEO Denita Wawn stated that these reforms are essential for meeting national housing and infrastructure ambitions.

In the United Kingdom, research from the Learning and Work Institute warns that declining employer investment in training could hinder economic growth. The report indicates that investment in training per employee has fallen by 29% since 2011, with the duration of training sessions also decreasing. The study projects that 2.5 million more jobs will require higher-level skills by 2035, particularly due to the influence of artificial intelligence and the transition to net zero. The institute warns that without a shift toward longer, developmental training, productivity growth remains at risk.