The call comes as South32 considers the future of the TEMCO manganese smelter, with a decision expected to be announced later this month. The closure could leave 300 people out of work.

The Chamber of Commerce has also lobbied federal ministers to consider establishing a TAFE campus at George Town to train workers in the growing services and tourism industries - an extension of the current Trade Training Centre.

Group president James Cameron said there were a number of levers governments could pull to help the region transition and retain jobs.

MORE ON TEMCO AT BELL BAY:

"We'd like to see incentives both in the form of financial incentives for businesses, and a streamlining of the application process," he said.

"There has got to be an investment-ready attitude in the bureaucracy of local, state and federal governments. At the moment, there are a number of hurdles businesses have to jump to set up here.

"We have also recommended that a division of TAFE be relocated here to work alongside the workforce to retrain people in the instance of TEMCO closing down."

A green hydrogen production facility at Bell Bay remained close to the top of the wishlist, and a number of companies are believed to be considering the area given its access to power, water and deep-water port.

The George Town Chamber of Commerce and other Tasmanian groups have made submissions to a Senate committee inquiry on jobs of the future which began hearings in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Northern Tasmania Development submitted the North would lose about 5000 working age people over the next decade without government intervention, mostly due to retirement.

It said the flow of a working age population in and out of the region was a concern.

The organisation drew on Commonwealth jobs data for Launceston which showed 50 per cent of highly skilled jobs required the applicant to know or be known by the employer.

It said this could cause skilled workers without a network to find opportunities elsewhere.

The Cradle Coast Authority has argued the federal government needs to do more to promote regional population growth and migration strategies to regional areas.

Cradle Coast Authority chief executive Daryl Connelly said the North-West had "significant social challenges" despite being in a period of prosperity, particularly through upcoming renewable energy developments.

He said the region had a declining population, particularly its working age population.

"Current projections suggest a potential net increase in jobs through to 2022, over and above current trends," Mr Connelly said.

He said a survey of North-West employers in 2017 and 2018 found 36 per cent of them had difficulty in recruitment. The committee is due to report on December 4.

Liberal Bass MHR Bridget Archer said the George Town community has held a view of future proofing Bell Bay and "diversifying the industries" for several years.

"I support the Chamber's proactive approach to the potential situation and I commit to working with them and all stakeholders including state colleagues and federal ministers as I have been in recent months, as we all need to be proactive in securing economic opportunities for Bell Bay," she said.

Tasmanian Minister for State Growth Michael Ferguson said the government was providing $100,000 for projects specifically designed to help Bell Bay diversify its workforce.

"The Strengthening Bell Bay Package will support learning and development projects that improve the diversification, resilience and global competitiveness of businesses in the zone," he said.