The Manufacturing Alliance and Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) have joined forces to leverage local intelligence to strengthen the manufacturing sector’s workforce. Adam McCleery writes.
The Manufacturing Alliance and MSQ have forged a strategic partnership aimed at leveraging local Queensland intelligence to inform workforce planning and training product development.
As the Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) for the manufacturing sector, the Manufacturing Alliance wants to ensure that the manufacturing industry can access workers with the skills needed to shape an innovative future made in Australia.
MSQ is also committed to future proofing the manufacturing industry in Queensland.
This partnership marks a significant step towards enhancing collaboration and knowledge exchange between the state and the manufacturing JSC, ultimately strengthening the support for the Queensland and Australian manufacturing workforce and industry.
“Collaborating with Manufacturing Skills Queensland to leverage local Queensland intelligence represents a pivotal moment for the Manufacturing Alliance,” CEO, Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance, Sharon Robertson.
“This partnership underscores our commitment to Queensland’s manufacturing industry.
“This strategic integration of local insights and expertise offered by Manufacturing Skills Queensland will enable us to develop training packages and projects that resonate with the industry’s current and future demands, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and competitive manufacturing workforce.
“We are committed to working collaboratively towards a system that supports a sustainable, prosperous future for the manufacturing industry.”
Under the new partnership, MSQ and the Manufacturing Alliance will work together to align approaches and share intelligence to accelerate key projects that strengthen the state’s manufacturing capabilities.
Manufacturing Alliance has two projects already underway; ‘Building a defence manufacturing workforce’ which is dedicated to understanding the alignment between the capacity and capabilities of the skills system and the future needs of the defence manufacturing workforce; and ‘Aviation maintenance skills pathways’ which will examine the alignment between the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) new licensing regulations and the training system.
MSQ is supporting these projects to ensure the Queensland’s industry
is heard.
The Manufacturing Alliance and MSQ will also collaborate closely on the update of manufacturing related training packages.
This partnership represents a first for the Australian Government’s Jobs and Skills Councils and highlights the Manufacturing Alliance’s commitment to ensuring the solutions developed enhance workforce readiness and industry competitiveness and meet state and Australian requirements.
“Queensland’s manufacturing industry is poised for significant growth over the next decade,” said CEO, Manufacturing Skills Queensland, Rebecca Andrews.
“This partnership enables a streamlined approach for Queensland stakeholders to actively contribute to the development of products at a national level, ensuring that they accurately reflect the dynamic needs of our local manufacturing landscape.
“Embracing the opportunity that is before us needs collaborative effort—employers, peaks, unions, training organisations and all levels of government—to future-proof the industry, build capability and secure manufacturing in Queensland.
“We are dedicated to fostering an environment where knowledge exchange and stakeholder input play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Queensland’s manufacturing workforce.”
According to figures released by Manufacturing Skills Queensland, the Queensland manufacturing industry generated $24.3 billion of value-add in 2022-23, accounting for 5.25 per cent of Gross State Product.
And the state’s share of real manufacturing value-add has grown from 16 per cent in 2003, to around 20 per cent in 2023.
Meanwhile, with regards to employment in the Queensland sector, which the agreement aims to grow, saw 187,000 active employees in the sector as of November of 2023. Accounting for 5.6 per cent of Queensland’s total employment.
The news comes just two years after the Queensland Government announced its Advanced Manufacturing 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan.
The action plan sets a path for Queensland manufacturers to respond to these changes, drive economic growth and create jobs.
The revised Roadmap and Action plan contains 19 actions in 5 key strategy areas to address these challenges and position manufacturers to grasp new opportunities to grow their business and create jobs.
This includes transitioning to a low carbon economy, increasing diversity and accessing supply chain opportunities in the emerging green energy sector as part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the Olympics and Paralympics.
The Queensland Government continues to work with local manufacturers to help them increase their international productivity and competitiveness and adopt innovative processes and technologies.
Much of this is being done through the department’s manufacturing hubs in Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone and on the Gold Coast, to support manufacturers to become more productive and grow their businesses.
The Manufacturing Ministerial Council, comprising manufacturing industry leaders, will continue to provide expert advice to ensure the Queensland manufacturing sector remains on a strong growth trajectory to become more globally competitive.