A RECENT survey of Australian businesses has revealed that 43 per cent of respondents don’t offer formal training, while the economy and changing demographics increasing impact on companies’ workforce needs.
The ManpowerGroup study of nearly 24,000 employers in 41 countries and territories, with more than 2,900 employers across Australia and New Zealand indicated that many companies still don’t recognise the return-on-investment offered by training when compared to the causal effect of not hiring or training new workers to replace retiring workers.
While the survey found that 57% of Australian companies believe that they can find the talent they need instead of developing it, the rapidly changing economy and demographics as factors are increasing impacting companies’ workforce needs.
“By 2050, the number of people aged 50 and over in Australia will have increased by over 80 per cent. In comparison, the number of persons aged 18 to 49 is projected to grow by just over 35 per cent,” the report states.
“Ageing workers have left many companies with unfilled positions as employees retire without obvious replacements to step in.”
The survey did find, however, that those companies that did invest in training were beginning to step up their efforts by structuring more robust, innovative training initiatives.
“Now, training is better coordinated, more thorough and increasingly customised,” the report said.
Are you making the most of your own workforce talent?
AREEA provides a suite of customised training designed to enhance employee capability across the resource industry and have been successful in sourcing funding to address workforce development priorities in the resources sector.
A growing number of AREEA member companies are already benefiting from the funding allocation and a partnership with AREEA for training – to retrain, or upskill their operator and supervisory sectors.
The funding priorities in the current National Workforce Development Funding (NWDF) round are to support the mining, construction and allied sector industries of the resources economy.
How do you access the funding?
If your organisation operates in, or provides support services to the mining industry, and is being impacted by the pressures of the skills shortage, then you may be eligible to apply for funding, to support workforce development projects.
Applications must demonstrate that the organisation is either:
• operating in a mining sector; or
• has been particularly affected by the effects of the expanding resources sector, through loss of skilled labour to the resources sector, or industries that support the resources sector.
Training solutions
While eligible organisations in all sectors are able to apply for funding, the application must clearly outline how it has been impacted by the resources sector, the resulting effects on the competitiveness or viability of the organisation and the proposed workforce development and training solution to reduce these effects.
The focus of projects should be on assisting individual organisations to increase their workforce capacity by providing existing workers and new workers with the opportunity to enhance their skill levels through formal training (a nationally recognised qualification).
Need help getting started?
Organisations wishing to apply for this funding should contact AREEA Training and Development, for support in developing an application that will include a business case outlining:
• the impact of the resources sector on their industry or organisation;
• the resulting effects on the competitiveness or viability of the organisation;
• how their project addresses these impacts;
• the training that will be funded and how this training will address the impacts of the resources sector in terms of the competitiveness or viability of the organisation; and
• a clear ‘line of sight’ to a nominated resources development project as defined in a supporting workforce development training plan.
For more information, contact AREEA Training and Development on 1800 891 662.
