An agricultural workforce plan for Tasmania’s north west

Agriculture is a significant contributor to the Tasmanian economy at $2.4 billion annually. While the sector has undergone a significant technological evolution over the past couple of decades, resulting in a very different profile of skills needed for workers and careers available, there is still a need for skilled employees in the sector.

The North West Agricultural Workforce Plan is an initiative from Skills Tasmania and one output from the ‘Northwest Tasmanian Job Ready Generation Package’. The Plan was developed to inform industry, governments, education and training providers on what actions need to be taken, and by whom, to support the growth of a highly skilled and highly valued agriculture workforce in the north west region of Tasmania.

In 2020, our RMCG Tasmania consultants conducted an in-depth survey with 110 businesses in all agricultural industries in north west Tasmania to gain a better understanding of employment opportunities, how they may be changing and what skills may be required for employees in the future within the region. Our team mapped these needs against training services and options, and recommended how to address the gaps using both strategic and tactical recommendations.

This process has allowed the agriculture industry in Tasmania’s north west to:

• Inform current and future job seekers on the employment and career opportunities in the agricultural sector
• Identify the skill and knowledge requirements of those opportunities.

For more information and to read the key findings from the project, see our final report.

What industry, government, and education and training providers can do to support the growth of a highly valued agricultural workforce in the north west region of Tasmania.