Victorian Skills Plan highlights strong job growth across key industries

The Victorian Skills Plan (VSP) for 2025 into 2026 outlines the skills and training pathways needed to support the state’s future workforce. The plan maps out opportunities across major growth sectors including health care, education and training, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness and the clean economy. Around 373,000 new workers are expected to enter the Victorian labour market over the next 3 years, including 143,000 workers in new jobs and 230,000 workers replacing retiring workers.

Digital capability remains a defining workforce requirement in Victoria. The plan highlights needs ranging from foundation digital literacy to advanced skills in areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), reflecting rapid technology adoption across the economy.

Across digital technology occupations, 19,300 new workers are expected over 2025-28, driven by investment in data centres and growing demand for software engineering, information communications technology (ICT) management and design roles.

Health care and social assistance remain Victoria’s largest employer, with 90,300 new workers expected over 2025-28, including strong demand for ageing and disability carers, nursing support and personal care workers, and early childhood educators.

The education and training sector continues to be a major employer, with strong demand for roles supporting early childhood and school education, vocational education and training (VET) and higher education.

Agriculture and agribusiness continue to be priority growth areas. The sector is forecast to add 5,400 new workers over 2025-28, supported by record food and fibre exports and emerging agritech roles.

The plan reinforces the importance of strengthening digital capability, supporting micro credentials for retraining, and ensuring TAFEs and training providers remain responsive to changing industry needs, especially in priority sectors, credentials for retraining, and ensuring TAFEs and training providers remain responsive to changing industry needs in priority sectors including construction, digital, health, advanced manufacturing and the clean economy. With strong projected workforce demand and clear pathways into priority industries, the skills plan positions Victoria to build a skilled, future-ready workforce aligned to a rapidly changing economy.

Learn more about the Victorian Skills Plan, and explore the companion resources including the Implementation Update, Employment Projections Dashboard and Snapshot of the Victorian Labour Market Report all available on our website.

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