More employers sign on to support alternative pathways into digital careers

NSW Department of Education

A growing number of leading employers and government agencies are committing to skills-based hiring and opening up more job opportunities for people without a university degree, as part of the NSW Government’s mission to tackle the state’s digital skills gap.

Today, new signatories to the 20 per cent Alternative Pathways Pledge were welcomed at a signing event hosted by Accenture in Barangaroo.

The pledge is a key initiative under the NSW Digital Compact, a cross-sector partnership addressing the projected need for a further 85,000 digital workers in NSW by 2030.

Signatories commit to ensuring that at least 20 per cent of their entry-level digital hires come from alternative pathways, such as TAFE or direct industry experience, by 2030.

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the initiative reflects a powerful shift in thinking among employers.

“We’re seeing strong momentum for change. More employers are recognising that the best talent doesn’t always come with a degree.

“This pledge is about creating real opportunities for job-ready people from all walks of life, and tackling the digital skills shortage with practical, inclusive solutions.”

The growing number of organisations joining the Compact demonstrates strong support for workforce reform and inclusive recruitment.

The latest organisations to join the pledge include major players such as IBM ANZ, Salesforce, NSW Health, Infosys, Department of Customer Service, and TATA Consultancy Services, bringing the total number of Compact partners to over 30.

Peter Burns, who leads Accenture’s business in Australia and New Zealand, said the Department’s leadership had created a clear and collaborative roadmap for change.

“The leadership shown by the NSW Department of Education in creating this initiative has brought industry and government together with a shared goal. It has created the conditions for collaborative action and given employers the structure and support to act with confidence and consistency."

Since the first pledge event in December 2024, significant progress has been made:

• The Tech Council of Australia and Future Skills Organisation launched the first national reporting framework to track progress on the pledge.
• Partners have collaborated across workstreams to co-design resources and support SMEs to make skills-based hiring easier.

The NSW Government anticipates the pledge will become a regular event as more organisations step up and commit to supporting diverse, job-ready talent.

For more information on the Digital Compact, please visit HERE

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