The South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) announced its support of the Manufacturing Workforce Plan 2024 launched by Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance (MISA), saying it has the strategic overview for success.
SEMMA also noted however that industry consultation must continue to ensure implementation occurs so Australian manufacturing continues its 4.0 lean and agile journey.
“We are at a critical time in Australia’s skills environment – not since the war have we experienced such a skills gap. Like housing, we need thorough strategic programs and policies to ensure we can fill not just the current skills gaps – but anticipate and address future skills gaps,” said SEMMA CEO Honi Walker.
“We need radical promotional campaigns that cut-through to all levels of our diverse society.
Manufacturing has evolved – so have our careers. We offer smart, secure and sustainable roles from entry level occupations to those highly skilled positions, if it’s a career you seek – then manufacturing can help you find it.”
SEMMA was pleased to read the action items included an “awareness raising” campaign and “attraction piece”, a tool that is essential in today’s social media marketplace.
“To reach students – of all ages, we need to use their channels. We also need to encourage women and have a more inclusive and diverse workforce if we are to meet our national manufacturing goals,” said Walker.
Wages are competitive with other sectors and manufacturing is more stable than other project-based sectors like construction and mining.
Manufacturing also allows people to “Earn while they learn” a great benefit is that most will not have huge HEC debts once they are qualified.
This puts them ahead of their rivals who attended university.
SEMMA has been contributing to the Manufacturing Workforce Plan 2024 and will continue to ensure it will benefit manufacturers and those entering manufacturing.
The next stages of the Manufacturing Workforce Plan 2024 are critical, and SEMMA is here to make sure stakeholder engagement informs the next phases.
“There’s never been a better time to take on an Apprentice, embrace diversity or, for people considering a career change to upskill – the opportunities are vast as manufacturing will continue to grow and will need diverse skilled people to achieve this projected growth of 16 per cent by 2033,” said Walker.