A new centre of excellence established to help businesses attract, recruit, train and retain workers in the crucial manufacturing and engineering sectors has been officially launched in Queensland.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said Manufacturing Skills Queensland was playing a vital role in overcoming skills shortages in the state’s most critical industries.
“Our Government is investing almost $5.3m in the centre to help solve skills shortages in the manufacturing and engineering sectors and ensure our industries stay globally competitive,” Welford said.
“Manufacturing is Queensland’s second largest contributor to gross state product, accounting for about $15bn in 2006-07.
“The broader manufacturing industry accounts for 192,000 jobs – about 9% of the state’s total.
“Manufacturing Skills Queensland is another initiative of the $1bn Queensland Skills Plan, taking a new approach to working with industry to ensure the state’s vocational education and training system is better targeted to economic demands.
“Our state must meet the demand for skills in manufacturing so we keep pace with economic growth and a tight labour market.
“Creating a skilled workforce is a responsibility shared between industry, employers, training providers, unions and the Government.”
Manufacturing Skills Queensland is a division of QMI Solutions.
Jim Walker, QMI Solutions’ CEO, said he was working closely with the State Government and industry to lead skills development and promote a training culture across the manufacturing and engineering sector.
“MSQ is influencing business strategy and workforce management, developing skilling programs with registered training organisations, securing industry contributions to training and identifying a set of services and products to meet changing industry skill needs,” Walker said.
Under the Queensland Skills Plan, two other industry centres of excellence have been established in the priority areas of energy, and building and construction.