Employer investment in worker skills is a critical contribution to Australia's future workforce

Jobs and Skills Australia's (JSA) latest Insights paper finds workplace learning is an essential tool for workers to not only hone their current skills but adapt to structural changes in their field.  

Measuring employer investments in learning: insights, challenges and a pathway forward, explores how workplace learning helps workers build skills throughout their careers, including through informal learning and on-the-job training.  

Acting JSA Commissioner Megan Lilly said employer investment in learning is a critical part of the story and complements the role of governments, and the education and training sector. 

“Most discussions about skills focus on the upfront formal study that people undertake, but employers play a major role in helping workers build, apply and transfer their skills throughout their careers,” acting Commissioner Lilly said.  

“Workers increasingly need to update and deepen their skills as technological, demographic and structural changes reshape Australia’s labour market dynamics.” 

“The value that employers add to the workforce goes beyond direct financial investments in training and includes good job design that enables workers to apply and deepen their skills over time,” acting Commissioner Lilly said. 

Australia's last comprehensive measure of employer investment was collected more than 20 years ago, leaving a significant evidence gap at a time of increasing focus on productivity and workforce capability. 

The report finds that better evidence would strengthen understanding of where workplace learning is happening, where gaps remain, and how learning supports skills, workforce capability and productivity.  

In response, the report outlines a pathway to strengthen the evidence base, helping support more informed policy development and improved monitoring of outcomes across Australia's skills system. 

This publication is the latest release in JSA's Insights Series and contributes to JSA's broader work on lifelong learning and workforce adaptability. The report is available on the JSA website.

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