Queensland Government announces plan to meet demand for tourism workers

The Queensland Government has released a plan that addresses how the industry will meet the forecasted demand for 20,000 extra tourism industry workers by 2020.

Queensland Minister for Training and Skills Yvette D’Ath said the Queensland Tourism Workforce Plan 2017-2020, developed by Jobs Queensland, creates a roadmap for how the state will prepare for the future of the tourism workforce.

Minister D’Ath explained "it is estimated that about 20,000 extra tourism workers will be needed in Queensland by 2020 and this plan is a starting point that will help ensure we have a skilled-up workforce to meet that demand."

She said high quality service from skilled staff was critical to ensure Queensland remained competitive with other tourist destinations, adding "as the plan outlines, to keep up with the influx of extra visitors expected over the coming years, forecasters predict that the key occupations will be for chefs, transport drivers, café/restaurant/hotel managers, kitchen hands, waiters and baristas.

“Employees and businesses are the lifeblood of the tourism industry and this plan and its recommendations will help us design initiatives to meet the training and skills needs, which can include developing courses and training programs, improving pathways into employment, and finding ways to keep workers in the industry.”

Jobs Queensland Chair Rachel Hunter said the plan was developed following extensive consultation with industry and communities across Queensland.

Hunter advised “this plan provides an industry-endorsed strategic framework to build on the strengths of the tourism industry while providing clear and achievable goals that Government and the industry can work towards.

“Through consultation, we know that recruitment and retention of a skilled workforce can be difficult for employers and we need new and innovative ways of thinking to address these issues. We know change is coming and this plan outlines a clear path forward for Government, industry and various stakeholders in four key areas: careers, local workforce, skills and collaboration.”

Later this year, Jobs Queensland will also provide individual reports for 13 regions that will detail specific local job and training needs in the tourism sector for those areas.

Skills shortages in tourism had also been identified as an issue in Victoria and in New Zealand.

Image: The staff team at Dreamworld.

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