Labour market issues
The Department of Education and Training is focused on assisting mature aged Queenslanders to get training and gain formal recognition of the skills and qualifications required to help them find meaningful employment in their chosen industry.
In an environment where the Australian workforce is ageing, fewer young people are entering the workforce and larger numbers of the existing workforce are becoming mature aged, combined with the significantly restricted growth in the labour force, skill shortages are emerging. A key to addressing these shortages will be the participation of older people in the labour force, their ability to secure employment and the number of hours they are able to work. The challenge is to increase the labour force participation and employment of older workers.
Training can increase employment opportunities
A report released by the National Centre for Vocational Education and Training Research (NCVER) in February 2010 indicates that for an average person who is out of work, completing a VET course increases the likelihood of employment from 52% to 62% in their first year after completion.*
Further research indicates that there are also financial benefits to gaining a qualification.
According to the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth** published by the Australian Council for Educational Research:
- Apprenticeships had a major impact on earnings and, on average, increased weekly earnings by about 20 per cent.
- A diploma qualification increased earnings by about 14 per cent.
- In general, gaining a qualification was associated with higher earnings, other factors equal, than participating without completion.
When examining Australia's ageing population and its implications for the future, NCVER has identified the important role that the vocational education and training sector has to educate and train those aged 25 to 44, in anticipation of when they reach the 50 to 64 year age group.
This, combined with the changing nature of work patterns of Australians and the globalisation of the marketplace, has a significant impact on the employment outlook for Queenslanders.
The services offered by Skilling Solutions Queensland have been developed to clearly address these labour market issues.