The Anticipating Future Skills Series from Jobs Queensland has released four headline employment forecasts for the five-year period 2025-26, estimating total employment of nearly three million, an increase of 207,000 new jobs.
The four fastest expanding regions in Queensland include Wide Bay with 13.6 per cent; Sunshine Coast with 12.5 per cent; Townsville with 12 per cent and Central Queensland with 11.5 per cent.
According to the new data, the four fastest expanding industries in Queensland are health care and social assistance, professional scientific and technical services, lodging and food services, and education and training.
Queensland’s workforce is also anticipated to be more educated than ever, with 82,000 more bachelor-qualified workers and almost 44,000 more workers with Certificate III and IV qualifications.
The Anticipating Future Skills Series includes baseline employment estimates for regions, industries, vocations, and qualifications, as well as projections for three scenarios: post-COVID digitisation, shifting skill profiles, and global headwinds.
The report found that industries affected by COVID-19 have recovered, and by 2025–2026, employment in the hospitality and food services sector is expected to increase by over 21,000, in retail by 9,000, and in the arts and recreation sector by 2,000.
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer stated that the employment estimates released by Jobs Queensland are critical in helping the government comprehend the state’s future labour market.
“It’s forecasts also make it clear that the Vocational Education and Training review I have underway will be important in guiding our skills and training decisions going forward,” the minister noted.
Farmer added, “The economic modelling of future employment trends across all industries and regions of Queensland provides information to support workforce planning, identify jobs growth, training needs and help Queenslanders make decisions about future careers.”
Minister Farmer also underscored that the interactive online data tools can help businesses, industries, and regions plan for the future by ensuring they have the qualified labour they require and aiding them in continuing to expand both now and in the future.
Starting 17 August, visitors to the Jobs Queensland website can access free materials such as a state overview and a series of industry and regional profiles, as well as an online database that allows you to develop fully customised profiles based on the estimates.
For more information or to access the Anticipating Future Skills Series Four employment projections, you may visit this link.
