A chronic skills shortage across the rail sector is expected to continue for another decade at least.
Around 70,000 extra workers will be needed with all kinds of traditional and digital skills.
To meet these skills shortfalls the NTC’s National Rail Skills Hub is working with governments, industry and the education sector to find better ways to:
- attract a younger, more diverse workforce and retain experienced workers workers
- improve skills recognition between networks to make it easier for workers to move across the country according to demand
- develop an agreed, high-quality dataset to improve workforce training.
Developing a national approach to rail skills training
Currently the bespoke nature of training is trapping many workers in their jobs, as their skills are not recognised across networks.
The NTC, through the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP) is working to reduce this gap by improving the quality and consistency in skills training and harmonising worker accreditation.
Through NRAP We’re working closely with the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), Industry Skills Australia (ISA), and the rail and education sectors to develop a national blueprint for the mutual recognition of rail skills. This will identify and align the core units of competency found in many key rail roles.
A pilot program for Safely Access the Rail Corridor (SARC) training is currently being run by the ARA in the Pilbara. All rail infrastructure managers in the region recognise this training. This means workers moving across the region’s heavy haul networks will need to complete one SARC course instead of four. Similar programs will run across the country as NRAP advances its mutual skills recognition program.
We are also working to improve the consistency and quality of training. A pilot program run by NRAP is distributing high quality, nationally recognised courseware. This is giving trainers and assessors more time to focus on delivering courses.
To inform NRAP’s skills program, we’ve identified the 30 most in-demand rail roles and mapped the fastest training pathways and career progressions into these positions. A search tool is helping people find the role and training that suits their experience and aspirations.
In partnership with the ARA we’ve developed a 10-year forecast showing the demand, supply and skills gaps in Australia’s rail workforce.
Meeting future rail skills demand
Finding enough workers with the skills rail needs will not be easy as demand outpaces supply and Australia faces the tightest labour market in 50 years.
Many of the skills rail urgently needs are in demand in other sectors. To compete, rail needs to make it easier for people to enter the industry. It also needs to attract more people from a range of backgrounds.
The NTC is working with the rail industry to identify national initiatives that will help to build an inclusive culture and improve diversity in the workplace. We aim to attract and retain more women and young people in rail. And to make it easier for people from different sectors and countries to transfer their skills.
Entry-level rail training is being developed for people outside the rail sector. The ARA-led program will be delivered through TAFE and other registered training organisations. The program will build a talent pool of people who have acquired an entry level of competence and are genuinely interested in a rail career.
Rail electives and micro credentials are also being introduced to undergraduate engineering courses. This is part of an ARA program in partnership with universities to raise the visibility of rail and highlight the diverse and high-tech career opportunities that the sector offers.
Accelerating access to digital skills
Digitisation is changing Australia’s rail network, and the way people work.
Demand for digital skills is expected to increase over the next five years as new rail technology is introduced. By 2027, nearly 40 percent of existing rail workers will have their roles touched by the introduction of digital technology.
At the same time, demand for specialised digital workers is expected to grow by 84 per cent. This includes workers in areas such as cyber security, data analytics and systems engineering.
Take a look at the digital rail skills demand – five-year outlook.
We are working with the rail and education sectors to grow rail’s digital competencies.
Through NRAP, we are:
- clarifying the specific digital rail roles and competencies that needed in the future
- identifying accelerated digital training pathways
- promoting diverse and inclusive access to digital skills training.