Labor has united with industry leaders for the fourth Employment, Regional Development and Trade Industry Advisory Council held in Launceston this week.
The Council is made up of a cross section of representatives including training organisations, the University of Tasmania, small business, industry, local government, and regional economic development bodies.
Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Small Business, Anita Dow, said the meeting was again a success and provided an opportunity to look closely at demographic changes across Tasmania, changes in key industry sectors, and the mismatch between skills and training and current and future employment opportunities in Tasmania.
"The contribution from IAC members is informing Labor's policy development and providing valuable insights into how to address barriers to employment in Tasmania," Ms Dow said.
"The important role of Local Government in the coordination and success of local employment programs was discussed at length.
"The IAC meeting also discussed our changing economy and the challenge we face in that economic growth is no longer leading to full time job creation in Tasmania.
"There is a need to address the decline in mid-skill jobs and acknowledge the increase in part time and casual jobs and underemployment. Our traditional areas of growth are changing and there is a need to take a different approach to education and training and more importantly pathways to employment particularly across regional Tasmania.
"Labor is committed to working with educators, industry, local government and the community to identify short, medium and long term policies to support the growth of Tasmania's employment, regional development and trade sectors. Our free TAFE policy is but one example of this."
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Small Business
