Consultation and engagement for the Digital Professional Workforce Plan

To develop the Digital Professional Workforce Action Plan, the Queensland Government conducted public consultation over a 10-week period in 2019-2020.

The aim was to better understand the issues affecting the labour market, particularly in regional Queensland. We outlined the proposed approach by government and the digital industry to increase the size and skills of the state’s digital and ICT workforce and listened to the concerns and proposals presented. This resulted in the priorities and actions outlined in the plan.

Consultation activities

• 5 ministerial roundtables
• 118 surveys completed
• 2,700 website visitors

Key survey results

59.5% said their organisation is expecting an ICT skills shortage in the next 12 months.

78.6% felt people do not understand the roles available in an ICT career.

68.3% said ICT skills and training does not meet their region’s labour market needs due to:

• quality of graduates
• lack of on-the-job training
• access to the right training, especially in regional locations
• lack of awareness and limited access to affordable professional development.

Survey respondents confirmed career perception is a barrier to uptake – the ICT professions contribution is undervalued and not understood.

Key opportunities

• Improve image of ICT careers.
• Improve career and pathway information.
• Improve digital education in Queensland schools from Preschool to Year 12.
• Stronger industry engagement and partnerships.
• Increase graduate/trainee placements.
• Subsidise and incentivise education pathways:
  • revise terminology from ICT to digital (contemporary and future jobs).
  • regional workforce development.
  • promote ICT as an all-ability career.

Key challenges

• Attracting and retaining quality staff.
• Infrastructure and connectivity, particularly in regional Queensland.
• Salaries are not competitive compared to Sydney and Melbourne.
• Graduate skills not always meeting labour market needs.