Growth in demand for health, social assistance and childcare services – National Skills Week

250,000 extra health and social assistance workers needed by 2025

National Skills Week’s Chairman Brian Wexham notes that health, social assistance and childcare services are in high demand. Australia needs a major jump in the number of people becoming skilled and working in these areas given our ageing population, and growing demand for early childhood education.

Mr Wexham said: “Health care and social assistance is Australia’s largest employer with over 1.8 million workers, which sounds like a high base. With the number of people aged 65 years and over projected to nearly double from 3.8 million in 2017 to more like 6.5 million in 2042, however, it’s clear we will need many more such workers. Medical advances mean the skillset required will also increase.

“It’s estimated that an additional 16,000 new childcare workers will also be needed if demand for these services is to be met. Australia’s birth rate is at a record low, but workforce participation by women is at a record high and government policies have shifted with the aim of making childcare more accessible and affordable.”

Human Services is a rapidly growing group of industries whereby humans are needed to provide care for other humans. The sector has nearly double the projected growth rate of any other industry in the Australian economy and includes areas such as aged care, disability services, early childhood education and care, and veterans’ care.

The Human Services Skills Organisation CEO, Jodi Schmidt, said it was important to understand and celebrate the Human Services skills-based jobs which underpinned the Australian economy.

“A skilled human services workforce is critical to Australia’s future,” she said.

“Attracting and skilling workers in this sector is critically important to meet the enormous jobs demand ahead. The HSSO is really proud to be a sponsor and participant in this year’s National Skills Week to celebrate, support and showcase the depth of skills required for this important and deeply satisfying line of work.”

Now moving into its twelfth year, National Skills Week 2022 is being held this year, August 22 to 28, inviting Australians to explore the Universe of Skills on offer through Vocational Education and Training.

A key objective of National Skills Week is to identify and highlight industries with the most in-demand jobs of the future as well as sectors forecast to see the biggest growth in coming years, to ensure Australians can gain the training and education they need to secure those jobs and maintain stable long-term employment.

Mr Wexham said it is critical that school leavers, job seekers, parents and career changers are informed of what the jobs of the future are, and what Australia’s most critical skills shortages and jobs needs are.

“This will ensure our young people, yet to start careers, can gain training and skills in education which is going to secure them a job at the end of that training.

“Further, it will assist in funnelling Australia’s labour market into the training opportunities which are most likely going to lead to their employment i.e. the most in demand jobs of the future.

Held annually, the vision of National Skills Week is to raise awareness on the diversity of careers which can be realised through vocational education and training, the skills for an economically viable future, and the incredible range of new jobs and skills in demand for the future.

This year’s Week will be centred around the theme of ‘A Universe of Skills’ encouraging people to go beyond their imagination to discover careers, pathways and opportunities in skills and Vocational Education that they may not know about, thought about or even imagined.

“National Skills Week plays a pivotal role in strengthening and communicating the key messages of industry and government in an environment shaped by the fluid nature of skills requirements and ever-evolving technologies,” said Mr Wexham.

“This initiative is designed to achieve real, transformative outcomes for Australian people – to inspire people to undertake active, participative education and training that VET provides resulting in skills that can realise immediate rewards in jobs, success and contribute to building our economy.”

All you need to know about National Skills Week 2022:

When:	August 22-28 2022
Purpose:	To raise awareness of the myriad of rewarding, lucrative and prestigious career pathways available via vocational education and training
Key Message:	A skilled workforce leads to an employ
Theme:	‘A Universe of Skills: Go beyond your imagination. Discover careers, pathways and opportunities in skills and Vocational Education that you may not know about, thought about or even imagined.

Interview options / talent:
Capital has access to a wide range of Government leaders, CEOs of industry bodies and organisations across industries facing the biggest skills shortages (healthcare, manufacturing, construction etc) as well as more than 15 VET Alumni from all parts of the country who have completed VET courses and won awards.

National Skills Week Chairman Brian Wexham is also available for interviews upon request.

National Skills Week is supported by the Australian Government’s National Careers Institute. For further information, visit nationalskillsweek.com.au.