Workforce planning for the future is the responsibility of all tiers of government.
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That is the view of University of Tasmania Professor Ian Hay.
Professor Hay’s comments come after Opposition Training and Skills spokeswoman Anita Dow urged the state government to conduct an urgent inquiry into the VET sector in Tasmania.
Ms Dow urged the inquiry due to the declining numbers of apprentices in the state.
“Apprentices while very important, are just one aspect of workforce planning in Tasmania and this planning needs to be considered within a larger context,” Professor Hay said.
“In this context, TAFE and VET are important components in the ongoing economic growth of Tasmania, and there is a need for ongoing workforce planning in Tasmania.”
The Examiner’s Pick up the Tools campaign aims to secure funds for the VET sector in Tasmania.
Professor Hay said initiatives such as the planned Trades and Water Centre for Excellence and the Agriculture Centre for Excellence announced by the state government were both expected to have long-term benefits for the state and would help to address the changing needs of the workforce.
“There is also a growing consensus that long-term workforce planning is a whole of government responsibility across the different levels of government, as long term funding is needed to be committed, especially in the not for profit sectors of the economy,” Professor Hay said.
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry apprentice advisor Cameron Lawrence says he believes apprentice numbers may slowly be improving, but not enough to affect the data yet.
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“It varies from industry, to industry and each trade has its own challenges,” he said.
Mr Lawrence said apprentices were becoming a more attractive option, because it meant businesses didn’t need to sub-contract.
“Where in the old days they would have had a sub-contractor, what I’m hearing is that they can’t find them, so what we’re seeing is companies are going back and looking to see if they can hire an apprentice.”