Skills Ministers from across the country will meet in Fremantle today to progress negotiations on a National Skills Agreement to tackle widespread skills shortages.
The Western Australian labour market has its own unique characteristics which present both challenges and opportunities.
With a strong presence of technician and trade worker occupations, Western Australia, in particular, has an above average share of national job ads for clean energy occupations facing skills shortages according to new data from Jobs and Skills Australia, including:
- Automotive Electricians (around 30 per cent of national job ads are from WA);
- Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians (around 29 per cent of national job ads are from WA) ;
- Structural Steel and Welding Trade Workers (around 27 per cent of national job ads are from WA);
- Mechanical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians (around 25 per cent of national job ads are from WA);
- Metal Fitters and Machinists (around 24 per cent of national job ads are from WA);
- Electricians (around 20 per cent of national job ads are from WA);
- Motor Mechanics (around 19 per cent of national job ads are from WA); and
- Sheetmetal Trades Workers (around 16 per cent of national job ads are from WA).
New Energy Apprentices are part of an army of skilled workers required to build and install the infrastructure needed to achieve a 43 per cent emissions reductions target by 2023 and net zero by 2050.
Western Australia has seen a strong take up of these apprenticeships, with 200 already signing up, but the State will need many more as the nation adjusts to the changing needs of the economy.
The Albanese Government’s New Energy Apprentices encourage Australians to consider careers in the clean energy sector, and will provide financial assistance of up to $10,000 – which is double that of other apprenticeships.
The WA Government will convene an Energy Transition Summit later this year, bringing together key players to leverage the unique job opportunities in the global push to decarbonise.
As stated by Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor
“After almost a decade of missed opportunities under the Coalition, Labor is securing clean energy jobs for Western Australians.
“Clean energy industries are the future for our workers and the opportunities are endless.
“We will see more demand in Western Australia and right across the country for many traditional trades not just electricians but also electrical distribution trades workers working on rewiring the nation and mechanical engineering trades constructing new solar and wind power sites.
“There will also be expanding demand for engineers across a range of fields electrical engineers as well as civil, mining, chemical, environmental and production engineers.
“New professional and technical roles are starting to emerge with hydrogen production, generating electricity from thermal waste to energy, like at Kwinana, and biorefineries to produce sustainable fuels. These new roles are the pathway for workers in fossil-fuel reliant sectors to transition to clean energy.
“We must build greater skills capacity in the clean energy sector, so our economic growth isn’t impeded, and Australia’s clean energy transition continues to accelerate to achieve our 2030 Emission Reduction Target.”
As stated by WA Training Minister Simone McGurk:
“Investment in clean energy in Western Australia is expected to create around 350,000 jobs by 2050.
“To make the most of these opportunities, we need a skilled workforce. We’re working closely with industry, TAFE colleges and universities to develop training strategies that will meet our needs now and into the future.
“We’re also removing barriers to training through our fee-free and low-cost courses which include qualifications in a range of priority areas including clean energy.”
