The report – Printing industry skills formation strategy – is the result of a two-year skills strategy developed by Printing Industries and Skills Queensland.
Neal McLary State Manager of Printing Industries Queensland says the report outlines recommendations to ensure the industry would have the workforce it needs for the future.
He says, “The rapid introduction of digital technology – in particular digital presses, high level copying systems and wide format printers – is having a significant impact on the printing industry across Australia and the world.
“For the estimated 5000 printing companies in Australia this means an increasing need for workers with skills and experience across digital printing.
“It is important the industry has a co-ordinated approach to workforce development and training of its existing workforce and a plan to attract new entrants.”
With funding and support from Skills Queensland, Printing Industries conducted wide-ranging industry research and consultations to identify and implement short and longer term strategies to meet the skills and labour demands of digital printing.
Rod Camm, CEO of Skills Queensland says today’s competitive labour market makes it critical for industries to be committed to workforce planning and to grow and skill their workforce in line with future demand and skill requirements.
Camm continues, “The advance of the digital economy is changing skills and labour demands across industries and creating new job opportunities as well as increasing the need to upskill existing workers to meet changing consumer demand.
“The printing industry is facing a rapidly changing skills environment and our investment of $240,000 has supported the industry and its leaders to formally research, discuss and address the common skills and workforce issues being faced and to develop a workforce development strategy to meet these challenges.”
McLary adds some of the recommended actions were already underway including those related to recognition of prior learning, use of vendor training as a potential pathway to qualifications and promoting a better understanding of the industry training package to ensure more relevant training and course selection.
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