On 27 July 2022, legislation was introduced to establish an interim Jobs and Skills Australia. Jobs and Skills Australia will be a new statutory body that provides independent advice to government on Australia’s current, emerging skills and workforce needs.
Establishing Jobs and Skills Australia fulfils a key election commitment of the current government and is an important step in ensuring Australia’s skills and labour market policies and programs are informed by the latest evidence.
Jobs and Skills Australia will play a critical role in informing employment, workforce and skills policy, as well as generating data to ensure relevant programs operate effectively into the future. It will produce the data and evidence needed to inform Australia’s current and future skills needs, so industries can better respond to future demands and not be held back by skills shortages.
Jobs and Skills Australia will have a broader remit than the National Skills Commission and include a focus on workforce planning and developing closer partnerships with state and territory governments, unions, industry, and education providers. Once established, Jobs and Skills Australia will replace the National Skills Commission.
The Australian Government will consult with stakeholders on permanent arrangements for Jobs and Skills Australia prior to settling the final model and functions. Following consultation, further legislation will be introduced to establish the permanent Jobs and Skills Australia.