Greater Whitsunday Alliance releases the regional Future Employment Study

Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) has released the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday (MIW) Future Employment Study to provide the region’s industries, businesses and workforces with a blueprint to ensure we are prepared for the impact of digital technology.

GW3 commissioned global consulting firm KPMG to complete the study.

The study analyses the expected impact of technology in the MIW region over a 10-year period to 2030 across four key industry sectors:  agriculture, health care and social assistance, mining and mining equipment, technology and services (METS), and tourism.

GW3 Chief Executive Officer Ms Kylie Porter said a strategic focus of GW3 is to prepare MIW workforces for the digital age which is upon us.  

“The study tells us that all our industries will go through labour market changes with digital skills critical for all jobs in the future.

“In 2030 most, if not all jobs in this region will require a combination of people and technology,” Ms Porter said.

A key recommendation of the study is to focus on development of digital skills, ICT skills and aligning training to future skill needs.

“As a region, we must focus on developing and enhancing foundational digital skills for all roles because most occupations in the future will use a combination of people and technology, known as augmented roles.

“Importantly, all sectors require people with ICT skills such as software developers; software engineers and data analysts. So whilst health is very different from agriculture for example, the roles of the future are shared.”

Ms Porter also said that whilst the report states that some jobs will be lost across the region, it also highlighted that in 2030 there is the potential for jobs growth in the agriculture, METS and health care and social assistance sectors. 

“By 2030, we expect that the number of people employed in health care and social assistance will grow from 7,150 people in 2020 to almost 11,000 in 2030. 

“In agriculture, the number of jobs will increase from 5,060 people in 2020 to more than 7,000 in 2030 – not taking into account seasonal workers which is difficult to track.  This report is not about focusing on the negative data, but using the information to prepare our region’s workforces for change,” Ms Porter said.

Ms Porter said the MIW region will require strong leadership and ongoing collaboration with industry and education and training providers to ensure we navigate this changing labour landscape successfully.  

“The issue of changing workforces is not unique to Mackay Isaac Whitsunday, however with this report and a shared commitment to working together to focus on the future, we are well placed to support our communities through this transition.

“The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region is embracing new thinking and change.  Our businesses and workforces are dynamic and future focused and together we will embrace new opportunities which will lead to a prosperous 2030,” Ms Porter said.

A full copy of the  Future Employment Study can be read here  

Greater Whitsunday Alliance is the region’s peak, independent economic development body committed to making the Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday region strong for generations.

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Fallon Drewett