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Wide Bay forest and timber industry plans their future workforce

The Wide Bay region is set to benefit from a new workforce development plan aimed at supporting the future skills needs of the forest and timber industry.

Jobs Queensland has partnered with Timber Queensland and local industry stakeholders to develop the Wide Bay Forest and Timber Industry Workforce Development Plan (PDF, 2.1MB), to help address local workforce challenges and support those in the industry to live and work locally.

Thirty-seven actions across four key themes undertaken in an industry-led approach will guide the Wide Bay region’s forest and timber industry towards its future state.

The four key themes of the Wide Bay Forest and Timber Industry Workforce Development Plan aim to:

  • improve industry awareness and attraction
  • grow a healthy training system
  • build business capability
  • develop diversity in people and products.

Jobs Queensland’s Anticipating Future Skills data suggests that the Wide Bay region is projected to experience the fastest increase in employment in Queensland.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the largest employing industry in three of the five local government areas in Wide Bay, so this workforce plan is important for the region to continue to thrive.

Our research reveals that community connection is a strong motivator to staying in the region.

By harnessing the voice of local stakeholders, this plan will equip the region to meet workforce challenges and provide locals with access to meaningful work.”

Further information:

  • The recommendations and actions outlined in the plan were designed and endorsed by representatives of the Wide Bay Region Forest and Timber Industry Project Champion Group.
  • This workforce development plan aligns with the intent of the Queensland Workforce Strategy to support industry-led, community-centred and government-enabled workforce initiatives and the challenges and recommended solutions identified, specifically relate to the industry in the Wide Bay Region.
  • The Wide Bay Forest and Timber Industry Workforce Development Plan can be downloaded from the Jobs Queensland website.