Workforce development

Workforce planning and development

Workforce planning and development is the process of determining skills and labour market needs in response to demographic, economic and labour market conditions and other challenges that ongoing change brings. It involves designing and delivering strategies, policies and actions that maximise opportunities for building, attracting and retaining a skilled and capable workforce.

The Department of Training and Workforce Development was established by the Western Australian Government in 2009 as the State’s lead agency for workforce planning and development. Our role is to work together with stakeholders across government, industry and the community to establish strategies and programs that build WA’s workforce to meet the State's economic and community needs by leading and coordinating workforce planning and development strategies, and driving a responsive and flexible training system.

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The State priority occupation list

The State priority occupation list (SPOL) is produced each year by the Department in consultation with key stakeholders, including industry training councils, to inform and guide workforce planning and development for Western Australia. It is a list of occupations rated according to their priority status for WA. The SPOL informs the WA State training plan, which guides the allocation of subsidised training programs into areas of prioritised need. It also informs WA workforce development planning and the Western Australian skilled migration occupation list (WASMOL).

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What's on the SPOL?

Using the new interactive SPOL format, you can search over 350 occupational groupings to see their current priority status as well as an outline of what evidence is driving each occupation's current rating.

The full SPOL list can be found here.

 

Please note that the SPOL is designed and intended to be used for policy planning and research purposes, rather than as a career guidance tool. If you’d like to know more about what kind of occupation(s) might suit you or someone you know, please visit the Jobs and Skills WA website.

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The SPOL methodology

Cover of the SPOL 2023 methodology paper

The SPOL is an important tool to inform decisions about how funding for training and workforce development programs is allocated. The SPOL helps to ensure that we are investing in the development of skills and knowledge that match the occupations we need now and into the future.

To provide you with information about the process and the data sources used to create the SPOL each year, the Department has developed the SPOL methodology paper.

 

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How can I contribute to the SPOL?

If you wish to contribute to future SPOL processes including via the WAJET survey, or provide the Department with specific intelligence on occupational or industry workforce issues or training needs, this is best done through our network of industry training councils.

Training councils represent specific industry areas and play a vital role in WA’s workforce planning and development; working closely with key stakeholders including peak employer, employee and industry organisations. A full list of training councils is available on the Western Australian State Training Board website.

If you wish to contact the Department directly regarding the SPOL or WAJET survey, please email us at info@dtwd.wa.gov.au (subject line: SPOL/WAJET).

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Skilled migration

In Australia, the Commonwealth Government's Department of Home Affairs has responsibility for immigration policy. It also makes the final determinations on all applications for humanitarian, business and skilled visas (see homeaffairs.gov.au for more information). The Commonwealth Government allows each Australian state and territory to nominate skilled migrants under a broad range of occupations, to meet their own local workforce needs.

The State nominated migration program

The Western Australian Government places Western Australians first when it comes to securing jobs in the State. Accordingly, the State Government's first workforce development priority is to train and prepare Western Australians for the workforce.

WA’s State nominated migration program therefore targets those skilled jobs that genuinely require overseas workers, where local workers cannot be sourced.

The graduate stream acts to incentivise international students to choose Western Australia as their study destination by providing a pathway to remain or contribute to our economy and lifestyle.

The program works in conjunction with other workforce development mechanisms to help ensure employers have access to the skills they need.

For information on living and working in Western Australia, or how to apply for nomination by the State Government for a skilled nominated visa under WA's State nominated migration programplease visit the Department's Migration portal

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Outlook and assessment for WA

Western Australia is a great place to live and work. Our enviable climate, great lifestyle and culturally diverse community provide a wealth of opportunities. Economically, our advantages include a highly skilled workforce, varied regions, a strong resources sector and a time zone shared with the fastest growing countries in the world. Our State is well positioned to take advantage of global trends that are shaping the world’s economy and labour markets. 

The $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan outlines how Western Australia will bounce back from the impacts of COVID-19 to reposition itself as a thriving and innovative place in which to live, work, visit and do business. The plan has 21 priority streams, each underpinned by direct commitments, including investment, resourcing and programs of work. The scope is comprehensive, ranging from new technologies, local manufacturing and training to tourism, patient care and the environment.The plan will create jobs and training opportunities for future industries, help restore business and consumer confidence, and rebuild the economy.  

The Department of Training and Workforce Development is supporting the WA Recovery Plan through various skilling initiatives. 

Labour market outlook

There are substantial risks and inherent uncertainties associated with producing forecasts for an economy and there will always be differences between the forecasts of key aggregates and the final audited results. 
This is exacerbated more with the unprecedented impact on the global, national and State economies and the level of uncertainty associated with the future trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the risk of a second outbreak of the pandemic in Western Australia.

The outbreak of COVID-19 halted momentum that was building in the Western Australian economy prior to the pandemic. While there has been uncertainty around COVID recovery, and despite initial sharp falls in activity, Western Australia’s economy is recovering at a faster rate than other States and the national economy. This reflects better health outcomes, government assistance, an industry structure geared towards mining, and a commodity-intensive stimulus in China, which has underpinned strong export volumes and prices (particularly for iron ore).

Some industries and cohorts are likely to recover much faster than others, while the unwinding of dedicated stimulus measures may also impact the rate of improvement. 

It is noted that in a recovery period, employers may also increase the hours of existing workers (who have had their hours cut due to COVID-19 downturn) rather than recruit new workers, hence limiting the number of opportunities for new entrants into the labour market. For this reason, early career pathways and skilling up the State’s young people continues to be a high priority, as this represents a critical stage in the beginnings of any person’s career development and future work engagement. Further to this current and emerging innovation and technology advances are changing the nature of work and impacting the demand for skills.

Given the degrees of uncertainty around the State’s labour market outlook and the dynamics described above, the importance of retaining a flexible approach to the planning and purchasing of training delivery is imperative.

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Industry information and intelligence

The Department sources information on skills supply and demand, workforce development issues, current emerging skills shortages and other related intelligence from a wide range of sources. This includes liaison with peak industry bodies, businesses, non-government organisations and many other stakeholders. In particular, Western Australia has industry training advisory arrangements in place with eight training councils, each covering a particular industry sector of the State’s economy.

Industry training councils

ITCs represent specific industry areas and play a vital leadership role in WA’s workforce planning and development, working closely with key stakeholders including peak employer, employee and industry organisations. In addition to advising the State Training Board and the Department of Training and Workforce Development about attracting, retaining and skilling a capable and sustainable workforce, the ITCs provide:

  • high level, strategic information and advice that informs the State Training Board on the training needs and priorities of industry in Western Australia;
  • market intelligence on skills supply and demand, in particular current or emerging skills shortages; and
  • recommendations for training strategies that support industry’s skills development needs.

ITCs also have a central role in the development of quality vocational and education training curriculum to ensure that the skills and knowledge gained through training is aligned with current industry competencies and requirements. A full list of WA ITCs is available on the WA State Training Board website.

Regional Coordinating Committees

Following the Regional Skills Summits held in 2021, work is continuing to support strong and sustainable workforces across regional Western Australia.

A network of key industry, community and government stakeholders are working together through collaborations and partnerships to progress practical actions to support building a local workforce for local jobs.

Twelve Regional Coordinating Committees (RCCs) are in place across the State, supporting regional communities to implement new practical and place-based actions with a focus on local solutions to local issues.

RCC’s are led by Regional TAFE Colleges, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Development Commissions along with community stakeholders and other State and Commonwealth Government Departments.

While actions are unique to each region, key themes of Regional Action Plans focus on:

  • attracting and retaining workers with the right skills in the region, particularly in those industries in the region where there is a demand for skilled workers;
  • supporting young people’s participation in training and employment;
  • providing flexible and responsive training and education pathways for young people and the local community, including under-represented groups; and
  • attracting skilled migrants to fill employment vacancies unable to be filled by the local workforce.

The RCCs meet throughout the year to address key priority areas designed to build the region’s skills base and grow a skilled workforce in the regions.

Workforce insights: Regional training and employment trends

Regional training and employment trends include labour market data and qualitative information gathered through the Department’s annual Western Australian Jobs, Education and Training (WAJET) survey.

This data is available for each of Western Australia’s nine regions and Perth through an interactive Regional Snapshot.

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Developing your workforce

A smart organisation knows that a focus on its people is just as important as a focus on finance or any other aspect of the business. Putting together a comprehensive workforce development plan will help you attract, develop and retain a skilled workforce that can take your business forward into its next level of success.

By demonstrating a commitment to take on apprentices, trainees, Aboriginal people and young people, businesses can also increase their likelihood of winning work on government projects under the Western Australian Jobs Act 2017. There are opportunities for businesses of all sizes to participate in Western Australian Government tenders.

The Western Australian Government provides a range of skilling solutions to help your workers to learn, adapt and grow with your business enabling you to overcome challenges and pursue new opportunities. The State’s education and training systems are key to addressing skill needs for your business and helping you to meet your employment and training obligations. These inputs include:

  • funding apprenticeships and traineeships;
  • short courses (skill sets);
  • significant reduction in course fees at TAFE and private training providers;
  • employer incentives;
  • out-of-contract-register to help connect apprentices to new employers;
  • Job Ready program that provides training pathways to employment and support industry attraction;
  • labour market analysis and workforce development planning;
  • Group training organisations; and
  • jobs and careers assistance. 

By understanding the skills and capabilities required  in a diversified and constantly changing economy, individuals and businesses can equip themselves for future employment opportunities more effectively.

Whatever your requirements, a range of support services and information and resources are available to assist you with your workforce planning and development. Jobs and Skills Centres can provide you with support and assistance with planning and developing your workforce, and a range of useful resources and information is available on the Jobs and Skills WA website.

favicon-32x32.png Visit the Jobs and Skills WA website

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Support and information services

The Department offers a range of specialist services that can assist you with advice, resources and information to guide and support your workforce development planning.

The following services are all free of charge and can be accessed throughout Western Australia.

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Resources for employers

Developing and implementing workforce planning and workforce development processes in the workplace and having a ‘workforce action plan’ are essential components of healthy business practice.

A range of useful resources, information and tools have been developed by the Department of Training and Workforce Development in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other WA industry leaders. Available on the Jobs and Skills WA website, they provide small and medium businesses with a ‘one-stop’ gateway to find useful information, templates, links and resources that can help you to better plan, attract, develop and retain a skilled workforce.

Visit the Jobs and Skills WA website

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Jobs and Skills Centres

Jobs and Skills Centres

Jobs and Skills Centres are one-stop shops for careers, training and employment advice and assistance. Services are free, and accessible to all members of the community.  Five centres opened on 16 April 2018, located on metropolitan WA TAFE campuses, with regional centres opening through 2018–19. Each of the centres is staffed by people who can provide free professional and practical advice on training and employment opportunities including careers advice, apprenticeship and training information. Support services for employers and business, as well as specialist services for Aboriginal people, ex-offenders and people from a culturally or linguistically diverse background are also available.

The centres also provide an online jobs board, to connect jobseekers with employment opportunities and to help employers attract and recruit employees.

Find out more on the Jobs and Skills WA website

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Small Business Development Corporation

The Small Business Development Corporation was established by the State Government to encourage, promote, facilitate and assist the establishment, growth and development of small business in Western Australia. It offers a comprehensive range of services to the small business sector, including business skills workshops and support for recruitment and workforce development, as well as a range of guides and tools.

You’ll find comprehensive information on topics such as starting your business, employing staff and managing disputes, as well as useful statistics relating to small business in WA, on the SBDC website.

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Page last updated February 09, 2024