Equipping Queensland’s workforce for the jobs for the future will be the focus of a Skills and Industry Summit to be hosted by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the end of November.
Industry, small business, universities, the training sector, unions and government will come together to make sure the state is ready and able to meet the labour force needs of a rapidly changing economy.
"My government is working hard every day to grow our economy and grow jobs for Queenslanders right now," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"But we are also focused on the new types of jobs that will be needed in the future.
"Change is already happening to the way we work, and the pace of change will increase.
"So along with the Deputy Premier, the Minister for State Development and the Minister for Training and Skills, I want to tap into the thinking of the biggest companies in Queensland’s traditional and emerging industries."
The summit on Wednesday, November 28 will begin with an Industry Skills Roundtable, where leading CEOs and Board Chairs will discuss how to provide the skills for the workforce of the future.
This will be followed by a Skills and Industry Summit, where 200 delegates and key speakers will discuss the future of work.
"The labour market of the future will need skilled workers who have kept pace with - and are leading the way - with technology, automation, innovation and the shift to a knowledge-based economy," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"I’ve said it before and want to make it clear again: if we don’t have the skills that industries need for these jobs, employers and companies will look elsewhere, go elsewhere and operate elsewhere.
"I want to share the challenges of the future with industry, universities, the skills training sector and unions. We must all work together."
Minister for Training and Skills Shannon Fentiman said future jobs must be linked to what is happening in the education system - schools, TAFEs and universities.
"We are engaging with employers, industry and community leaders to ensure our training system keeps pace with our changing economy," Ms Fentiman said.
"We want to make sure we are investing in the right training and skills for Queenslanders to be able to take advantage of jobs now and jobs of the future."
