australian industry group

The trade war between the US and China presents both challenges and opportunities for Australian businesses, writes Innes Willox. While it is often said there are no winners in a trade war, the current impasse between the US and China is having mixed and some unexpected impacts on Australian businesses. Ai Group members are telling … Continue reading Australian winners and losers in US China trade war →

Addressing issues of mental health in the workplace require an understanding of the causes and symptoms of illness. Ai Group explains why employers must account for the mental wellbeing of their workforce. There is little doubt that mental health has been an emerging issue for Australian workplaces for some time. In 2009, it was claimed … Continue reading Mental health at work – Is your business in the right head space? →

With Australian apprenticeship and traineeship numbers falling to a ten year low of 259,385 in 2018, chief executive of Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), Innes Willox, wrote to federal and state governments ahead of their meeting in Cairns on August 9. With global economic uncertainty and digitalisation driving the transformation of industry, Willox argued that … Continue reading Drop in apprenticeship numbers necessitates action: Ai Group →

In collaboration with the national industry associations of G20 countries, the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has called for action to confront the dissolution of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement system. The WTO established the rule-based framework that Australian manufacturing businesses that rely on international exports and imports depend upon. With Australia’s export … Continue reading Ai Group joins call for stable international trade regime →

As local industry looks to build on recent momentum, how do manufacturers plan to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities awaiting them in 2019? Mark Goodsell, head of the Australian Industry Group in NSW, explains. Manufacturing entered 2019 with a lot of momentum built up over the past 2-3 years. With 85,000 … Continue reading Priorities for Australian manufacturing in 2019 →

Manufacturing entered 2019 with a lot of momentum built up over the past 2-3 years. 85,000 jobs were created by the industry in 2018, among the highest of any sector according to the ABS. It has been a period of growth with change, as a new model of manufacturing success emerges from the twin currents … Continue reading This Year’s Model: Priorities for Australian Manufacturing in 2019 →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) recovered by 2.5 points to 52.5 in January 2019. This indicates that manufacturing conditions turned mildly positive again in January, after a flat result in December 2018 ended 26 months of continuous expansion (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with the distance … Continue reading Australian manufacturing sees slow but positive start to 2019 →

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI) dropped 1.9 points to 42.6 in December, indicating a fourth consecutive month of decline. Ai Group head of policy, Peter Burn, said sharp falls in residential building activity together with a further drop in commercial construction and a slight dip in engineering … Continue reading Australian construction sector ends 2018 with weaker demand →

The Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) suggests that manufacturing has slipped into negative territory for first time in more than two years. The Australian Industry Group (AI Group) Australian PMI fell 1.8 points to 49.5 in December 2018, signalling the first mild contraction in manufacturing conditions in 26 months. It is the lowest … Continue reading Australian Manufacturing Index indicates slight slowdown in manufacturing →

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Defence Council has signed MOUs with the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC) and the Australian Industry and Defence Network (AIDN National) to collaborate on developing the capacity of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the defence industry. The agreements will see the organisations work closely together in an effort to improve the … Continue reading Ai Group teams up with defence industry advocacy groups to boost SME participation →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) climbed 2.3 points to 59.0 in September, indicating faster growth across the manufacturing sector and extending the index’s period of uninterrupted growth to a full two years. Australian PMI is a national composite index calculated from a weighted mix of the diffusion indices for production, … Continue reading Australian PMI: Two years of uninterrupted expansion in manufacturing →

A new report released by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has identified critical skill issues facing Australian businesses, with 75 per cent of employers reporting skill shortages and 99 per cent impacted by low levels of literacy and numeracy. These significant findings from the Australian Industry Group come at a time when digital technologies are … Continue reading Ai Group’s new report reveals major skill gaps →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) climbed 4.7 points to 56.7 in August, indicating faster growth across the manufacturing sector. Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said the rebounded PMI in August places Australia on the cusp of two years of uninterrupted expansion. “The manufacturing sector has confounded doubters in … Continue reading Manufacturing rebounds in August despite drought impacts →

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s decision to dump emission reduction targets from the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) has been criticised by the business groups, saying the move can destroy any sense of policy certainty. The Business Council of Australia (BCA) and the Australian Industry Group both issued statements following the announcement on Monday, arguing that the decision could hamper long-term … Continue reading Business groups voice concern over NEG decision →

A framework engagement agreement, signed by the Innovative Manufacturing CRC (IMCRC) and Germany’s Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, is set to significantly increase awareness and uptake of Industry 4.0 within the Australian manufacturing industry. Fraunhofer is considered the leading organisation for applied research in Europe, working collaboratively with companies, public-sector bodies and institutions to develop strategies, business models and … Continue reading IMCRC, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to boost Industry 4.0 collaboration →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) ended the financial year on a high note, down just 0.1 point to 57.4 to record a 21st month of continuous expansion. This PMI measures perceived changes in activity levels across Australia’s manufacturing sector from one month to the next. Readings above 50 indicate … Continue reading Manufacturing closes financial year on a high note →

Australia’s manufacturing sector recorded 20th month of expansion in May, with the Australian Industry Group’s Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) easing by 0.8 points to 57.5, albeit at a slightly slower rate compared to the previous month. This marks the longest run of expanding or stable conditions for the Australian PMI since 2005, with … Continue reading Manufacturing grows for 20th successive month →

The Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council (AAMC) has welcomed new leadership into its organisation. It has announced that Mark Goodsell, current Head of Manufacturing at the Australian Industry Group, will take on the role of executive director for the AAMC. AAMC Chair, Mr John Pollaers, welcomed Mr Goodsell’s appointment as part of an important strategy to build … Continue reading AAMC appoints Mark Goodsell as new executive director →

“Australia’s performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in the science, reading and mathematics skills of 15 year olds is nothing short of a crisis,” Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said in response to the release by ACER of the latest report PISA 2015: A first look at Australia’s results.

One of the country’s biggest employer organisations, the Australian Industry Group, is ramping up its WA presence with the appointment of a new WA State Manager.