Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast 2024 Skills Audit

Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) approached Charles Sturt University (CSU) to undertake a study to identify skill shortages impacting the Mid North Coast (MNC) Region of New South Wales, as part of their mandate to foster economic development in the region. The study combines analysis of existing evidence on skill needs and shortages within the region with targeted data collection from businesses, industry and employment and training service providers. This was undertaken in conjunction with community consultation to assess the current and potential future skills shortages in the region.
This report adopts a 'skills ecosystem' approach to understanding and addressing workforce development challenges of the MNC. It recognises that skills are reproduced in spatially bounded and context-specific labour markets shaped by interconnected networks of firms, markets, and institutions. This approach considers the broader socio-economic context in which skills are embedded, including the complex relationships between business settings and networks, institutional and policy frameworks, training
approaches, job design, and work organisation within a specific regional context.