TAFE NSW Regional General Manager Jonathan Davis is urging school leavers to take advantage of fee-free training to equip them with the skills they need to secure jobs with local employers who are crying out for qualified employees.
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The NSW Business Chamber 2019 Workforce Skills Survey has reported 61.8 per cent of businesses with skills shortages are unable to recruit suitable staff and they were carrying more job vacancies in 2019 compared to 2017.
Across the Riverina region, the aged care and childcare industries are facing chronic skills shortages, while shortages also exist in a range of trade areas.
TAFE NSW Regional General Manager, Mr Davis, said: "TAFE NSW works closely with industry to ensure that we're delivering a pipeline of skilled employees who are equipped with the practical skills and work experience that employers are looking for.
"Considering the range of fee-free training opportunities available, such as the NSW Government Smart and Skilled and Fee-free apprenticeships initiatives, there has never been a better time for school leavers to pursue a career in industries with employment and career progression opportunities."
The Joyce Review of Vocational Education noted this year that stakeholders were concerned students who would otherwise thrive in VET careers were being directed towards higher education options where they may not succeed.
"While university may be a viable option for some school leavers, it's important that vocational education and training is considered a 'plan A' for school leavers to pursue careers in areas that they are passionate about," Mr Davis said.
Riverina-Murray NSW Business Chamber Regional General Manager Andrew Cottrill said local business owners and industry representatives had welcomed the push by TAFE NSW to encourage school leavers, and their influencers, to the range of career opportunities in the Murray region.
"In an area where we still have high youth unemployment, it's absolutely unacceptable that we still have employers crying out for skilled workers," Mr Cottrill said.
"Anything we can do to encourage more school leavers to pursue a trade or traineeship, or to target a career in the many other skills shortage areas, will only help strengthen our regional economy."
Mr Davis also took the opportunity to reassure school leavers that, regardless of their ATAR, there are a range of degrees and pathways to higher education available at TAFE NSW.
To find out more about studying at TAFE NSW, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au.
