Skills system needs rebalancing

Australia’s post-school education system needs greater balance with more and better connections between VET and higher education, says Jobs and Skills Australia Commissioner, Professor Barney Glover AO. 

In a wide-ranging speech to the National Press Club today, Professor Glover called for an urgent rebalance of Australia’s post-secondary education. 

“Without doubt, post-secondary education enhances employability. Unemployment rates are over 10% for young people (25-34) without Year 12 or any tertiary qualification. That rate drops to 3.5% for those with higher education.”  

Professor Glover spoke of the national importance of rebalancing Australia’s training system to address what he describes as a lack of symmetry. 

“There is a vital need for better alignment between our tertiary education sectors,” Professor Glover said.  

The latest Census results show that the share of the population with bachelor’s degrees or above as the highest qualification is up 31%, whereas the share with certificates I to IV as the highest qualification increased by only 11% between 2016 and 2021. 

Ninety percent of jobs growth in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education. This includes almost half requiring university and forty-four percent requiring a VET qualification and increasingly more requiring both VET and higher education.  

“This is even more stark when you consider the construction and infrastructure-intensive period ahead, as we build houses and transition to decarbonise the economy. 

“The system clearly needs rebalancing. We must reduce the discrepancy between where students are studying now and the job requirements of the future,” Professor Glover added. 

“Australia already has an enviable foundation in place – with leading universities and high-quality vocational education and training the envy of many of our competitors.”