Australia’s engineering squeeze putting green goals at risk

Australia’s major public infrastructure pipeline stands at $230 billion over five years. But there's a problem – not enough engineers in critical and emerging sectors to get the job done. This isn't just a bump in the road for our economy; it's a major hurdle in our race to achieve net zero and create a sustainable future. The solution? A collaborative approach from government, industry, and academia.?

The government has made some important first steps. Initiatives like the Universities Accord and the Pathway to STEM program, reforms in skilled migration, and the creation of a Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce are all aimed at making the engineering workforce more diverse and ready for the future. But this is just the beginning of what needs to be a much larger effort to close the gap in engineering talent.?

We need a strategy that does several things at once. We must get more young Australians interested in engineering, especially since fewer students are choosing to study advanced mathematics. We also have a pool of overseas-trained engineers in Australia who can’t find a job or are severely underemployed.?

Offering more chances for students to gain real-world experience through cadetships, mentoring, and work placements is crucial. These opportunities, along with efforts to keep engineers working in their field, and to provide ongoing training and chances for advancement, will make the engineering sector stronger and more resilient.?

One of Engineers Australia ’s key roles is to help develop a contemporary and future-fit engineering workforce. We want to ensure engineers can tap into the right courses and micro credentials to upskill and gain training in emerging areas such as robotics, green engineering, AI and hydrogen energy.??

Our Global Engineering Talent (GET) Program is a great example of how we can better utilise overseas-trained engineers through targeted courses and paid placements that prepare them for the Australian job market.?

The rise of AI in engineering brings both new possibilities and new challenges. Engineers Australia is pushing for a thoughtful approach to how we govern AI, including working with educators to set standards for AI in education and advocating for senior engineering roles within the government to oversee AI and other emerging technologies.?

To tackle the engineering shortage, we need to plan our workforce with the future in mind. This means getting better data on what skills will be needed and ensuring our education system is preparing students to meet those needs. It will require a joint effort from the government, educational institutions, and the industry to make sure we're all moving in the same direction.?

The shortage of engineers in Australia is more than just a problem for our sector; it's a challenge that affects the whole country. It impacts our ability to be sustainable, to build resilient infrastructure, and to continue growing economically.??

Solving this problem will take a united effort from everyone involved, backed by innovative policies and investments. By developing a diverse, skilled, and flexible engineering workforce, we can make sure Australia successfully completes the sustainable projects that are so important for our future.?