ACTIONS: Using workforce data to improve your workforce planning

Systematic workforce planning aligns businesses and human resource needs to improve business outcomes.

On this page:

Planning aims to ensure that the right people - with the skills and capabilities necessary for work – are available in the right numbers, in the right employment types, in the right place and the right time to deliver business outcomes.

Strategies are informed by scenario planning, future workforce demand, internal workforce supply, external workforce supply and analytics

Where to find information:

What immediate actions you can implement:

What longer term actions you can implement:

  • Analyse internal workforce supply to identify skills and capability shortages, gaps in succession planning and the skills and capabilities that your organisation may wish to cultivate in future. Identify positions (available now and in the future) that may be viable for returners.
  • HR team to convene a discussion with the Executive team, focused on future workforce requirements (including numbers, skills and capabilities).
  • Workforce data can be useful for identifying an issue your organisation might need to address.

Workforce data can be useful for identifying an issue your organisation might need to address. For instance, you could collect data on the rates of absenteeism, employees turnover, injury time lost and workers compensation claims by age and gender. Examples of how this data might look is available in the downloadable resource.

  • For instance, you could collect data on the rates of absenteeism, employees turnover, injury time lost and workers compensation claims by age and gender. It might look like this:
AGE ABSENTEEISM EMPLOYEE TURNOVER INJURY TIME WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS
  Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male
Below 25 years                
25 - 44 years                
45 -54 years                
55 - 64 years                
<65+ years                
Total                
  • In addition, you could collect data on the positions/jobs by gender. It might look like this:

POSITION/JOBS

FEMALE

MALE

1

MANAGERS

 

 

 

11

Chief Executives, General Managers and Legislators

 

 

 

12

Farmers and Farm Managers

 

 

 

13

Specialist Managers

 

 

 

14

Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers

 

 

 

 

 

2

PROFESSIONALS

 

 

 

21

Arts and Media Professionals

 

 

 

22

Business, Human Resource and Marketing Professionals

 

 

 

23

Design, Engineering, Science and Transport Professionals

 

 

 

24

Education Professionals

 

 

 

25

Health Professionals

 

 

 

26

ICT Professionals

 

 

 

27

Legal, Social and Welfare Professionals

 

 

 

 

 

3

TECHNICIANS AND TRADES WORKERS

 

 

 

31

Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians

 

 

 

32

Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers

 

 

 

33

Construction Trades Workers

 

 

 

34

Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers

 

 

 

35

Food Trades Workers

 

 

 

36

Skilled Animal and Horticultural Workers

 

 

 

39

Other Technicians and Trades Workers

 

 

 

 

 

4

COMMUNITY AND PERSONAL SERVICE WORKERS

 

 

 

41

Health and Welfare Support Workers

 

 

 

42

Carers and Aides

 

 

 

43

Hospitality Workers

 

 

 

44

Protective Service Workers

 

 

 

45

Sports and Personal Service Workers

 

 

 

 

 

5

CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORKERS

 

 

 

51

Office Managers and Program Administrators

 

 

 

52

Personal Assistants and Secretaries

 

 

 

53

General Clerical Workers

 

 

 

54

Inquiry Clerks and Receptionists

 

 

 

55

Numerical Clerks

 

 

 

56

Clerical and Office Support Workers

 

 

 

59

Other Clerical and Administrative Workers

 

 

 

 

 

6

SALES WORKERS

 

 

 

61

Sales Representatives and Agents

 

 

 

62

Sales Assistants and Salespersons

 

 

 

63

Sales Support Workers

 

 

 

 

 

7

MACHINERY OPERATORS AND DRIVERS

 

 

 

71

Machine and Stationary Plant Operators

 

 

 

72

Mobile Plant Operators

 

 

 

73

Road and Rail Drivers

 

 

 

74

Storepersons

 

 

 

 

 

8

LABOURERS

 

 

 

81

Cleaners and Laundry Workers

 

 

 

82

Construction and Mining Labourers

 

 

 

83

Factory Process Workers

 

 

 

84

Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers

 

 

 

85

Food Preparation Assistants

 

 

 

89

Other Labourers

 

 

Actions: Using workforce data to improve your workforce planning