Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Labor could ease migration caps to bring more foreign workers into Australia, part of plans to help fill “acute” labour shortages across the economy.

Highlighting training and childcare spending to boost women’s workforce participation, Dr Chalmers also left open the possibility of bringing in more overseas workers to fill ­immediate vacancies, joining Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil in flagging such a move.