McKell Insti tute - NSW’S GROWING REGIONAL SKILLS SHORTAGE McKell Insti

THE McKell Institute THE McKell Institute 8 T H E M C K E L L I N S T I T U T E EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of regional New South Wales’ labour market challenge; the barriers communities face to attracting and retaining a local skilled workforce; and the unique nature of labour shortages in specific New South Wales’ regions. [...] The Up-Skill Battle NSW’S GROWING REGIONAL SKILLS SHORTAGE 9 However, one of the commonalities almost every PART 3 then o"ers a projection of the skills that regional NSW community is facing in 2023 is will be in demand in NSW regional areas to 2027, the struggle to attract and retain skilled labour and warns of the emergence of ‘Skills Desert within their communities — irrespective of what Areas’. [...] The early phases of the pandemic led to extraordinary government interventions in Australia, which led to the shuttering of many industries, and the relocation of millions of Australian workers to the home. [...] The damage to roads is also acute, with the Across the state, river systems swelled after a extent of roads repairs far exceeding the capacity third consecutive year of increased rain saw for most local governments to fund the repairs, water levels rise, and the land remained soaked, and to find the workers and machinery that are limiting the amount of water that was draining equipped to perform t. [...] in the most a"ected communities will continue This is also seeing prices for these skilled trades to be a major determinant of the ability of increase in regional NSW, furthering the cost communities to attract labour to the regions in 2023 and beyond.