Addressing skills shortages and leveraging future opportunities for jobs and economic growth will be on the agenda when City of Newcastle (CN) meets with local business leaders today.
Around 90 representatives from across the region's business community will come together for CEO Connect, a Business Hunter event hosted by CN which will shine a light on economic opportunities for Gateway Cities such as Newcastle in a post-COVID world.
The meeting will also be used to highlight initiatives being delivered as part of CN's economic development strategy including a new digital tool, 'Imagine Newcastle', developed to attract people to live, work and study in Newcastle.
With job advertisements in Newcastle at record levels and local businesses experiencing chronic skills shortages, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said investing in people and their skills is key to the city's economic growth.
"City of Newcastle's Economic Development Strategy focusses on long-term actions to help create new jobs, drive investment and promote innovation," Cr Nelmes said.
"We believe that Newcastle and the Hunter region's economic future will be built on the talent, skills and ingenuity of our people.
"We have invested significantly in infrastructure, support programs for local business people and initiatives aimed at attracting skills and talent to the region as well as supporting the development and growth of Newcastle businesses and their employees.
"Our new digital platform 'Imagine Newcastle' provides another avenue to help address future skills shortages and growth industry job opportunities, delivering the insights and information needed to encourage people to live, study, invest or grow their business in our creative, culturally rich and innovative global city."
Cr Nelmes said 'Imagine Newcastle' would leverage the migration trend that is seeing more people than ever before relocating to Newcastle from metropolitan centres like Melbourne and Sydney, including a predominance of young professionals.
Research shows that better quality of life is one of the key drivers to people choosing to relocate to a new area.
"Newcastle is perfectly positioned to cater for this need, offering a destination with the lifestyle, community and culture people are searching for, enhanced by the career and business opportunities available in our city's innovative industries and future-focused economy," Cr Nelmes said.
See why Newcastle is a great place to work, live, play and create, visit www.movetonewcastle.com.au
