Pathways to develop a future-ready workforce
Like the industries that AgriFutures Australia serves, the future workforce will likely be broad and diverse. For rural industries to be better prepared for the...
NATIONAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Pathways to develop a future-ready workforce
52 pages
Published: 10 Oct 2025
Author(s): Rachael Rodney, Martin Amidy, Jane Kelly, Jane Quinn, Hayley Randle, David Dore, Tom Sloan, Michael Wellington, Steven Crimp
ISBN: 978-1-76053-438-7
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Like the industries that AgriFutures Australia serves, the future workforce will likely be broad and diverse. For rural industries to be better prepared for the future demands on labour and skills, we need to investigate what the nature of work will be.
Emerging technologies are predicted to intersect with the skills required to operate the equipment and systems to be used in future food and fibre production. Training and educational institutions need to be equipped and ready to meet skills development needs. There will be opportunities to develop new core skills and advance vocational training in specific areas based on industry demand. Developing suitable training programs for work skills requires planning, vision and preparation – and time to deliver them.
Attraction and retention strategies in Australian rural industries are critical to the prosperity of the sector. Presently, demand is not meeting supply and there are policies and programs being developed to address this critical shortage. Combined with an ever-changing technology landscape, the workforce environment is dynamic and the industry will require further studies like this to remain responsive to trends and opportunities within the sector.
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