Australia’s dynamic and innovative manufacturing industry can still suffer from outdated perceptions about the nature of work, based on traditional views about labour-intensive and dirty factories. Despite the increasing adoption of automation and digitalisation in place of more repetitive practices, manufacturing employers have reported difficulties in attracting workers to the industry due to these outdated perceptions.
Attracting a larger cohort starts with careers messages around the strength and stability of manufacturing and its potential for a breadth of future careers. There must be much greater awareness of the diversity in skills and roles and also the growth sectors in manufacturing. More should know it is the 7th largest employing industry, one of the largest exporters and that it remains one of Australia’s largest full time employing industries.
As well as attracting more people to the industry, more are needed from a broader range of cohorts to help alleviate skills and labour shortages as well as develop a more inclusive culture and diverse workforce.
The February 2022 Senate Economics References Committee report on Australian manufacturing reported increasing demand for ‘skills in sustainability, advanced maintenance and diagnostics, supply chains, procurement, as well as 'soft' skills such as workforce planning, creative and analytical thinking, complex problem solving and active learning skills, as well as attributes such as resilience, adaptability, and the ability to cultivate productive interpersonal relationships’. More people also need to know about education and training pathways into the industry that can develop these skills.
Ai Group is assisting the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to promote manufacturing via a webinar and online material. In this instance it is aimed at Employment Services providers and job seekers. Ai Group is seeking manufacturing members keen to showcase the industry by joining a panel in the webinar and/or agreeing to a case study being written on the benefits of working in your manufacturing business. The webinar/case studies release is planned for February/March 2023.
Please contact Anne Younger anne.younger@aigroup.com.au to flag your interest in being involved and how a profile of your business can attract more to the industry.
