Resources Skills and Employment Plan released

16 February, 2012 Today the Premier tabled in Parliament the Resources Skills and Employment Plan. 

With an estimated 40,000 additional resource sector jobs required by 2020, Queensland needs to be taking action now and implementing training and employment strategies which assist the resources sector meet its workforce needs and maximise job opportunities for Queenslanders.

Skills Queensland led the development of this plan, in conjunction with a joint industry government taskforce, which included representative from Bechtel, BHP Billiton, Queensland Gas Corporation and the Queensland Resources Council.

Developed as an outcome of the two Work for Queensland summits held in August and December last year, the Resources Skills and Employment Plan focuses on new training and employment strategies and realigning existing programs to ensure our skills system keeps pace with the needs of industry.

The plan includes 24 recommendations to meet the following four key objectives:

• enabling a better understanding of resources sector needs
• building the workforce in targeted communities
• increasing workforce participation
• providing skilling in key occupations in demand.

Amongst the recommendations proposed are new models to enable adult workers to develop trade skills and make a trade career a more attainable and realistic career option.

The plan also proposes investment in more resource employment coordinators across Queensland to better link workers to the jobs available.

Industry played a significant role in developing this plan and Skills Queensland will work closely with both the industry and government to drive the implementation and ensure a strong commitment to action.

Skills Queensland will now immediately focus on getting the strategies in place to make a real difference to providing skills and jobs. 

The plan is available at www.skills.qld.gov.au