THE HON BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY SHADOW MINISTER FOR SCIENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR GORTON
 
THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP 
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING 
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY
 
CLARE O’NEIL MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF WORK
MEMBER FOR HOTHAM
 
GED KEARNEY MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SKILLS
MEMBER FOR COOPER
   

A report released today by Deloitte Access Economics, The Path to Prosperity, exposes the Liberals’ complete absence of a plan for the future of work for Australians.

According to the report, the biggest threat for Australians is that workers are not being equipped with the right skills for the changing nature of work.

“In total, the shortages are significant – in 2019 alone there will be over 23 million skill shortages across the economy. This is not people shortages, but skill shortages. The equivalent of saying that every employee in Australia is, on average, missing two of the critical skills that they need to meet their employers’ expectations.”

DELLOITE ACCESS ECONOMICS, THE PATH TO PROSPERITY WHY THE FUTURE OF WORK IS HUMAN, MONDAY, 12 JUNE 2019
 
Lifting skills is crucial to future employment security and better wages, but the Liberals have been hopeless in addressing skills shortages.
 
As technology is used by businesses more and more to drive productivity and create stronger firms, the skills expectations of working Australians will change as well.
 
Australians need the Government to focus on and better equip them with the training and workplace skills they need now and for the jobs of the future. 

If we want the nation to become more prosperous, innovative and globally competitive, we need people with the skills to help achieve this.
 
In the absence of a locally skilled workforce, businesses will increasingly rely on 457-style visas to meet their workforce needs.
 
Labor is determined to make sure that we get Australians skilled up and ready for the jobs ahead.