The Australian Government has announced the appointment of Mr Adam Boyton as the National Skills Commissioner.
The National Skills Commission (NSC) is a critical new part of Australia's economic infrastructure, providing expert advice and national leadership on the Australian labour market, current and future skills needs and workforce development issues. Its leadership will also be integral to the reform of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said that the NSC under Mr Boyton will have a pivotal role in the Australian Government's skills reform agenda.
"Ensuring that Australians have the right skills in areas of demand for the future has never been more important as our economy recovers from COVID-19," Minister Cash said.
"Our recovery will be a skills-led recovery and the NSC will provide expert advice and national leadership on the labour market to inform current and future skills needs. The importance of good data and information to forecast future employment trends and labour market needs is integral to this."
"As the interim National Skills Commissioner, Mr Boyton successfully led the rapid establishment of the NSC and made considerable progress towards NSC priorities in a dramatically changing economic environment. I am pleased he will be able to continue this work as the National Skills Commissioner."
"The NSC forms a critical part Australian's economic infrastructure as we recover from the effects of COVID-19. It will be vital in providing a trusted source of information for job seekers and employers."
"Mr Boyton will lead the NSC to project future employment by industry, occupation, region and skill level; provide improved data and advice on VET pricing; and importantly, analyse the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market.
"The work of the NSC will also provide essential support to our critical JobMaker plan, including the $1 billion JobTrainer fund."
To date the Government has successfully signed JobTrainer agreements with South Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and shortly the Northern Territory.
Mr Boyton was previously the Chief Economist at the Business Council of Australia and before that the Australian Chief Economist at Deutsche Bank. He has been a member of the New South Wales Skills Board and closely involved in the continuous review and assessment of VET in New South Wales.
Mr Boyton's five-year appointment will commence on 13 October 2020.
