Australia must upskill its workforce for digitalisation and automation in the transport sector to create new job opportunities and stay competitive among OECD countries, according to a new report.
The report – Creating our future transport and mobility workforce: Understanding the workforce implications of transport digitalisation and automation in Australia – was undertaken by iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre and Swinburne University in response to the evolving workforce requirements for adoption of digital technologies in transport.
The report acknowledges that transport digitalisation and automation – fuelled by technologies such as connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and blockchain – will significantly impact the industry with some jobs changing or becoming obsolete. It also identifies many new job opportunities – for example, fleet service technicians, transport aides, and software engineering, which will require upskilling the workforce with the right skills.
A case study on electric vehicles (EVs) within the report suggests that a 50% EV uptake by 2030 could boost real GDP by $2.9 billion and create 13,400 new jobs.
The report outlines key digital and automation skills expected to be in high demand, including knowledge of autonomous robots, simulation tools, IoT solutions, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The report also emphasises the importance of soft skills, such as critical thinking, communication, and complex problem-solving.
The report calls for a nationally orchestrated approach to address the digital skills gap, including updated secondary and tertiary training, tax breaks and credits for employer-based training, a national grants program, and a national digital literacy curriculum.
More broadly in the transport sector, the report highlights 18 occupations facing high automation probability, and which will result in changing skills needs in those areas.
The report says by addressing data gaps, co-designing training courses and materials, and developing a framework for digital skills by occupation in transport and freight sectors, Australia can ensure its workforce is well-equipped for the future.
‘Holistic Approach’ Recommendations
The report’s recommendations to drive the nation’s digital skills development are:
• Provide national leadership and commitment to digital skills development and diversity
• Establish a measurable national standard for industry-specific digital upskilling programs
• Networks of partnerships between businesses, education providers, and the community
• Incentivising private investment by expanding the scope of tax policies
Taken together, the report’s recommendations advocate for “a holistic approach”, which “opens up opportunities to treat the digital skills gap as a pressing social issue, reaching the people and workforces who are most at risk of falling behind, potentially ‘updating’ education systems and providing financial incentives to renew skills”.
Quotes attributable to Ian Christensen, iMOVE CRC Managing Director
“Automated vehicles and digitalisation in the transport sector are set to redefine the workforce, creating both opportunities and challenges. While some tasks could be redefined in the longer term, the demand for other jobs or skills is also expected to rise.”
“The report is an important first step to understanding how we proceed by acknowledging autonomous technologies, digitalisation, employment, and workforce development intertwine with educational programs.”
“This comprehensive research serves as a catalyst to kickstart a national conversation on policy development for transport digitalisation skills and training. By investing in digital skills training and fostering a collaborative environment, Australia can take advantage of these new opportunities and create a more resilient and future-ready transport workforce.”
Quotes attributable to Prof Hussein Dia, Swinburne University of Technology
“The transport industry is undergoing rapid developments in key trends that will shape the mobility landscape for the next two decades. Advancements in connected and automated vehicles, warehouse digitalisation and automation, vehicle electrification, and artificial intelligence are all significant technologies on their own. But the real game-changer is when these technologies converge, creating a powerful combined effect that will drive unprecedented innovation and value.”
“This research has uncovered a critical challenge. Stakeholder consultations with the transport industry in Australia showed that 70% of employees felt unprepared for the digital transport skills of the future. And nearly half of surveyed organisations acknowledged a significant digital transport skills gap that needs to be overcome.”
“The case studies also confirmed the widespread belief that while technology may eliminate some jobs, it won’t eliminate work. These technology developments will indeed have a profound impact on future jobs and skills in the transport sector, but with the right set of strategies, policy interventions, committed leadership, partnerships, and incentives, the impacts can be managed. Early intervention is crucial, however, and we need to start now to create a suitably qualified digital workforce to realise the benefits.”
The $220,000 research report was jointly funded, with the Australian Government contributing $110,000 and iMOVE CRC and Swinburne University contributing $55,000 each.
The final report is available here: https://imoveaustralia.com/project/project-outcomes/creating-our-future-transport-and-mobility-workforce/
