The Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024 provides a skills roadmap for the future

The Skills Plan covers four broad priorities

1. Recognising the diversity of Victoria’s employment needs

• 352,000 new workers expected to enter the Victorian economy between 2023 and 2026 
• 64% of new workers will need higher-order skills 
• 277,000 new workers expected in metropolitan Melbourne 
• 75,000 new workers expected in regional Victoria.

The top industries expecting new workers are: 

• 83,300 health care and social assistance 
• 46,400 education and training 
• 35,000 professional, scientific and technical services 
• 32,300 accommodation and food services.

Occupations in demand include the following: 

• 17,600 ageing and disability carers 
• 10,200 registered nurses 
• 6,400 software and applications programmers.

More information on Victoria’s employment needs is available in the Employment Forecast Dashboard and the State of the Victorian Labour Market Report.

2. Promoting post-secondary education skills and career pathways 

New workers expected over the next three years will require higher-order and transferable skills, and vocational education and training (VET) will play a key role in delivering these skills. 

To further improve VET graduate outcomes, VET needs to meet the aspirations of learners and deliver training that sets them up for a range of opportunities. 

The Skills Plan recommends: 

• genuinely engaging with learners to meet their motivations and aspirations through an inclusive VET system 
• pursuing VET qualification redesign that increases transferable skills and supports wider career options. 

3. Lifting participation in education and training 

Access to quality and relevant learning for work and life is critical, including for First Nations peoples and Victorians with disability. 

The Skills Plan recommends: 

• empowering self-determination for First Nations peoples in vocational education 
• reviewing the supports available for learners with disability to identify improvements.

4. Delivering the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow

Local and global factors will require workers to up-skill and develop transferable skills, allowing flexibility within and across occupations and industries to meet higher-demand and increase productivity. 

The Victorian TAFE Network is at the forefront of the education and training responses needed to support the economy. 

To deliver the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow, the Skills Plan recommends: 

• continuing work on the future skills needs of Victoria and the implications for designing and delivering post-secondary education and training 
• designing targeted self-accreditation by Victorian TAFE Network providers 
• advocating for a regulatory framework that lessens the burden for Victorian TAFE Network providers 
• Victorian TAFE Network providers (in collaboration with the Victorian Government) work with universities and institutes of higher education to establish partnerships recognising the unique value of VET 
• advocating to the Australian Government for learners to have access to higher education subsidies where the Victorian TAFE Network acts as the access point for higher education 
• developing approaches to embed applied research in the education and training delivered by Victorian TAFE Network providers, and to support TAFE Centres of Excellence.

Download the fact sheet below (opens in a new window).

The Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024 provides a skills roadmap for the future

Understanding learner needs and aspirations is vital to ensure Victoria meets its skills and workforce needs.

Key statistics from the Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024

• 352,000 new workers expected to enter the Victorian economy between 2023 and 2026 
• 64% of new workers will need higher-order skills. 

The top industries expecting new workers

• 83,300 health care and social assistance 
• 46,400 education and training 
• 35,000 professional, scientific and technical services 
• 32,300 accommodation and food services.

Occupations in demand

• 17,600 ageing and disability carers 
• 10,200 registered nurses 
• 6,400 software and applications programmers.

More information on Victoria’s employment needs is available in the Employment Forecast Dashboard and the State of the Victorian Labour Market Report.

Learning to listeners 

The Skills Plan recognises that vocational education and training (VET) qualifications need to better resonate with learner aspirations. This will lead to improved completions and better employment outcomes. 

Better engagement with learners and providing a stronger voice into education and training design helps courses to be relevant to the career aspirations of learners and for delivery to be contemporary. Active students in learning are prepared for engaging productively in work.

Improving learner access to education and training 

Access to quality and relevant learning for work and life is critical, including for First Nations peoples and Victorians with disability, who are a focus in this plan. 

The Skills Plan recommends: 

• empowering self-determination for First Nations peoples in VET 
• reviewing the supports available for learners with disability to identify improvements.

Preparing learners for the jobs of today and tomorrow 

New workers expected over the next three years will require higher-order and transferable skills. 

• The Employment Forecast Dashboard provides information about current and future demand for jobs across industries, occupations and regions to help learners understand the training pathways to these jobs.
• The Skills Plan puts forward recommendations for an integrated post-secondary education and training system which encourages seamless pathways between VET; Adult, Community and Further Education; and higher education. This will give learners more options to pursue their career pathway. 
• The Skills Plan recommends embedding applied research in the education and training delivered by Victorian TAFE Network providers. Applied research in partnership with businesses builds skills for the future and students learn how practical, yet evidence-based, solutions can be developed and applied.

Resources

The Skills Plan builds on existing Victorian Skills Authority initiatives focused on providing targeted information for learners: 

• The Victorian Skills Gateway is a resource for exploring vocational education and training options offered by TAFE and training providers. 
• Skills and Jobs Centres provide free, expert advice to current and prospective learners and job seekers on training and employment opportunities. 

The TAFE and Training Line offers help and free advice about TAFE and training courses, qualifications and training providers. Phone the TAFE and Training Line on 13 18 23

Download the learners fact sheet below

The Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024 provides industry with a more active role in shaping education and training available to Victorians

The Skills Plan involves industry in the development of employment forecasts and insights on workforce trends, challenges and opportunities.

Key statistics from the Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024

• 352,000 new workers expected to enter the Victorian economy between 2023 and 2026 
• 64% of new workers will need higher-order skills.

The top industries expecting new workers

• 83,300 health care and social assistance 
• 46,400 education and training 
• 35,000 professional, scientific and technical services 
• 32,300 accommodation and food services.

Occupations in demand

• 17,600 ageing and disability carers 
• 10,200 registered nurses 
• 6,400 software and applications programmers
• 5,700 university lecturers and tutors
• 5,300 primary school teachers 
• 4,900 secondary school teachers 
• 4,600 accountants.

Promoting post-secondary education skills and career pathways  

Education and training are central to transmitting new knowledge and skills to industry and enterprises. To support knowledge transfer, the Skills Plan recommends genuinely engaging with learners to meet their motivations and aspirations through an inclusive VET system. 

A changing economy requires more workers with higher-order skills, and vocational education and training (VET) will play a key role in delivering these skills. The Skills Plan recommends pursuing VET qualification redesign that increases transferable skills and supports wider career options. 

The Skills Plan also reinforces the value of apprenticeships and, in collaboration with industry, recommends continued support to apprentices and trainees to help them achieve success.

Delivering the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow

The Skills Plan leverages existing industry stakeholder engagement mechanisms to ensure that skills planning and provisioning contains industry perspectives, creating a pipeline of workers with niche and transferable skills. 

To deliver the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow, the Skills Plan recommends an integrated post-secondary education and training system that recognises the unique value of VET, such as streamlining qualification development and lessening regulatory burden for providers. 

The Skills Plan supports the VET sector partnering with industry to drive innovation and higher productivity, and recommends developing approaches to embed applied research in the education and training delivered by Victorian TAFE Network providers.

Download the industry fact sheet below (opens in a new window).

The Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024 provides a roadmap for a learner-focused, responsive, and integrated post-secondary system

Victoria’s TAFE Network; training providers; adult, community and further education sector; and higher education institutions have a critical role to play in delivering Victoria’s skills roadmap.

Key statistics from the Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024

• 352,000 new workers expected to enter the Victorian economy between 2023 and 2026 
• 64% of new workers will need higher-order skills. 

The Skills Plan recognises the need for Victoria’s post-secondary system to further improve vocational education and training (VET) graduate outcomes, meet the aspirations of learners, lift participation in education and training, and deliver higher-order and transferable skills. 

Engaging with learners to meet their motivations and aspirations through an inclusive VET system 

• Providing a stronger voice into education and training reforms 
• Understanding learner needs and aspirations to identify opportunities to improve post-secondary education 
• Working with the Department of Education to enhance connections of school-aged learners with industry 
• Gaining a better understanding of the VET journey of different learner cohorts and their outcomes.

Pursuing VET qualification redesign 

• Streamlining learning pathways through skills ministers’ work on VET qualification redesign 
• Trialling new approaches to designing VET qualifications through local accreditation. 

Lifting participation in education and training 

• Empowering self-determination of First Nations peoples in VET
• Reviewing the supports available for learners with disability to identify improvements.

Exploring future skills needs 

• Continuing to lead work on Victoria’s future skills needs.

Delivering an integrated post-secondary system 

For Victorian TAFE Network providers, this involves: 

• streamlining qualification development 
• reducing regulatory burden 
• advocating for access to Commonwealth higher education funding 
• creating partnerships with universities that recognise the unique value of VET. 

Embedding applied research in VET 

• Developing approaches to embed applied research in the education and training delivered by Victorian TAFE Network providers 
• Considering using the Workforce Training and Innovation Fund to prioritise applied research projects.

Download the registered training organisations fact sheet below (opens in a new window).

The Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024 supports Victoria’s clean economy ambitions

The transition to a clean economy requires an expansion of the workforce and shifts in skills.

• 59,000 jobs will be created in renewable energy through the State Electricity Commission (SEC)
• 6,000 SEC jobs will be for apprentices and trainees 
• 10,000 additional jobs per year in clean economy-related occupations will be needed from now until 2030.

More information on Victoria’s employment needs is available in the Employment Forecast Dashboard and the State of the Victorian Labour Market Report.

The clean economy transition will create new specialist occupations (in areas such as battery storage, energy auditing and energy efficiency), while new workers will also be required in roles that support the transition (such as engineering production workers, keyboard operators, machine operators and motor mechanics).

Promoting post-secondary education skills and career pathways 

New workers with higher-order and transferable skills are needed for the clean economy transition, and vocational education and training (VET) will play a key role in delivering these skills. 

To further improve VET graduate outcomes, VET needs to meet the aspirations of learners and deliver transferable skills. The Skills Plan recommends pursuing VET qualification reforms that increase transferable skills and support wider career options. 

Delivering the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow 

The Victorian TAFE Network is at the forefront of the education and training responses needed to support the clean economy transition. 

Local and global factors will require workers to up-skill and develop transferable skills, allowing flexibility within and across occupations and industries to meet higher-demand and increase productivity.

To deliver the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow, the Skills Plan recommends: 

• an integrated postsecondary school system that recognises the unique value of VET, streamlining qualification development and reducing regulatory burden for Victorian TAFE Network providers
• developing approaches to embed applied research in the education and training delivered by Victorian TAFE Network providers.

The clean economy transition requires a transformed education and training response. The Clean Economy Workforce Development Strategy sets out the transformation needed in Victoria’s skilling approach. 

The Victorian Skills Authority will also support the development of the Victorian Energy Jobs Plan by providing data and insights.

Download the clean economy fact sheet below (opens in a new window).

The Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024 recognises the key role of the care economy in Victoria

The care economy is a significant driver of employment demand in Victoria.

Key statistics from the Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024

• 352,000 new workers expected to enter the Victorian economy between 2023 and 2026 
• 83,300 new workers are expected in the care economy or one quarter of all new workers expected in Victoria 
• 6 out of 10 new workers in the care economy will require higher-order skills. 

Occupations in demand

• 17,000 ageing and disability carers 
• 9,900 registered nurses 
• 4,000 nursing support and personal care workers 
• 2,600 early childhood educators or child carers.

More information on Victoria’s employment needs is available in the Employment Forecast Dashboard and the State of the Victorian Labour Market Report.

Promoting post-secondary education skills and career pathways 

Addressing skills and workforce gaps in the care economy requires adaptable workforces. New care economy workers expected over the next three years will require higher-order and transferable skills, and vocational education and training (VET) will play a key role in delivering these skills. 

To further improve VET graduate outcomes, VET needs to meet the aspirations of learners and deliver transferable skills. The Skills Plan recommends pursuing VET qualification reforms that increase transferable skills and support wider career options.

Delivering the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow 

The Victorian TAFE Network is at the forefront of the education and training responses needed to support the care economy. 

Evolving practices in health and care, often driven by new health models and use of digital technologies, require new knowledge and workers who can practice across roles. This requires new models of vocational education for preparing the care workforce.

To deliver the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow, the Skills Plan recommends: 

• an integrated post-secondary school system that recognises the unique value of VET, such as streamlining qualification development and reducing regulatory burden for Victorian TAFE Network providers 
• developing approaches to embed applied research in the education and training delivered by Victorian TAFE Network providers. 

The Victorian Government is developing a 10-year Victorian Health Workforce Strategy, which provides strategic direction and a framework for workforce development and reform for care economy workers. 

The Victorian Skills Authority is also supporting the care economy through a Skills Lab model aimed at lifting learning outcomes of enrolled nursing students. The lab is exploring new approaches to learning design underpinning the national Diploma of Nursing, to improve completion rates and better prepare graduating enrolled nurses for evolving nursing practices.

Download the care economy fact sheet below (opens in a new window).

The Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024 enables place-based responses to regional skills challenges and opportunities

Place-based responses to skills challenges and opportunities are essential to meet jobs and skills demand in Victoria.

Key statistics from the Victorian Skills Plan for 2023 into 2024

• 352,000 new workers expected to enter the Victorian economy between 2023 and 2026 
• 64% of new workers will need higher-order skills 
• 277,000 new workers expected in metropolitan Melbourne 
• 75,000 new workers expected in regional Victoria. 

The top industries expecting new workers in regional Victoria

• 22,600 health care and social assistance 
• 8,900 accommodation and food services 
• 7,100 education and training.

Occupations in demand in regional Victoria

• ageing and disability carers 
• registered nurses 
• livestock farmers.

Promoting post-secondary education skills and career pathways 

New workers expected over the next three years will require higher-order and transferable skills, and vocational education and training (VET) will play a key role in delivering these skills, including those for the clean economy transition. 

More workers with transferable skills will assist in the delivery of local responses to local skills challenges. 

The Skills Plan recommends new approaches to designing VET qualifications, and provides local communities with information to assist in better planning and decision-making, such as: 

• detailed insights into where job opportunities are in industries, occupations and regions through the Employment Forecast Dashboard 
• Seven Regional Skills Demand Profiles that provide information on skills gaps and job opportunities in the regions and complement the Regional Economic Development Strategies.

Lifting participation in education and training

Access to quality and relevant learning for work and life is critical, including for First Nations peoples and Victorians with disability, who are a focus in this plan.

The Skills Plan recommends: 

• working with training providers to empower self-determination for First Nations peoples in VET 
• reviewing the supports available for learners with disability to identify improvements.

Delivering the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow 

Local and global factors will require workers to up-skill and develop transferable skills, allowing flexibility within and across occupations and industries to meet demand and increase productivity. Skills challenges and opportunities vary across Victoria, and the post-secondary education and training system needs to improve responsiveness. 

The Skills Plan highlights the importance of the Victorian TAFE Network in responding to local skills challenges and opportunities through an integrated post-secondary system that enables self-accreditation and reduced regulatory burden for Victorian TAFE Network providers. It also recommends developing approaches to embed applied research in the education and training delivered by Victorian TAFE Network providers.

Download the regional fact sheet below (opens in a new window).