A knowledgeable, skilled and adaptable workforce is key to higher productivity, innovation and economic prosperity in Victoria.
Skilled workers are in high demand across the state. We are creating thousands of jobs for Victorians through our expanding housing and transport projects, growing data centre sector, fast-growing care economy, and transition to renewable energy.
Our continued investment in skills and training means that we can make the most of emerging opportunities across the economy — in digital technologies and advanced manufacturing for example — and deliver on the economic aspirations presented in our Victorian Economic Growth Statement and the Victorian Industry Policy.
Through Skills First and Free TAFE, we fund hundreds of qualifications and short courses at TAFEs and other training providers. Since 2019, we have helped over 212,000 Victorians save more than $674 million in tuition fees through Free TAFE – helping them get back into the workforce, gain the skills they need for current and emerging jobs and support them with the cost of living. This includes over 50,000 students in regional Victoria.
Our strong TAFE Network remains critical to skilling up Victorians for in-demand jobs across the state and we continue to invest in state-of-the-art TAFE facilities across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
An additional $459.3 million for TAFE and training in the 2025/26 Budget is helping more Victorians up-skill and re-skill into priority careers including $15.2 million for more pre- accredited literacy, numeracy, digital and non-technical skills training at Learn Local providers.
Victoria’s priority sectors, like construction, health, advanced manufacturing and defence, digital technologies, agribusiness and the clean economy offer good job prospects. This Victorian Skills Plan discusses the diverse job opportunities in these sectors and the skilling pathways to get into these jobs.
Rapid technological change and the rise of Artificial Intelligence is changing how Victorians live and work.
We are growing our data centre sector to support the rollout of advanced technologies and at the same time creating jobs. We are providing Victorians with the digital skills and non-technical skills they need to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven workplace. And our skills system remains flexible and responsive to meet current and emerging workforce needs.
Maintaining a high-performing, future-focused and fiscally sustainable skills system is a shared endeavor that requires engagement and investment from both government and industry. The government’s continued extensive investment in skills supports economic, social and community needs and provides Victorians with the core skills and knowledge they need to thrive in work and life. Industry must complement this and do more to train new and existing workers so it can adopt new technologies and make the most of new business opportunities.
The series of existing Victorian Skills Plans form a comprehensive roadmap to building a highly skilled and adaptable Victorian workforce to power our economy into the future. The Victorian Skills Plan for 2025 into 2026 identifies further opportunities for improvement and provides data, insights and advice to help learners, careers advisers, employers and other Victorians make good education, training and employment decisions.
I would like to thank the Victorian Skills Authority and its Advisory Board and Industry Advisory Groups, Victorian TAFEs and other training providers, and other stakeholders and partners who provided valuable insights to shape this Victorian Skills Plan.
The Hon. Gayle Tierney MP
Minister for Skills and TAFE
Minister for Water
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