New strategy from Toowoomba Regional Jobs Committee reveals the four industries with strongest jobs growth in Toowoomba

A new strategy report into future job opportunities and challenges across Toowoomba has pointed to four key industries that have been most responsible for driving workforce growth.

A new report has revealed the four industries with the strongest jobs growth in Toowoomba. Picture: Contributed

The health, education, agriculture and construction industries will be the major drivers of jobs growth over the coming years in Toowoomba.

That’s according to a new jobs report and strategy by the State Government-funded Toowoomba Regional Jobs Committee, which found the region has significant challenges facing its workforce as major projects start to roll in.

The Toowoomba Workforce Strategy, completed by the TRJC through Regional Development Australia’s local branch, recommended a series of short-term and long-term strategies be considered to take advantage of future opportunities.

The report found more than 6500 jobs were created in Toowoomba in the education, health, construction and agricultural industries between 2014 and 2019, while some sectors like manufacturing had gone backwards.

RDA projects officer Lauren Russell said the data was an opportunity to invest in the strongest performers and suggest changes for struggling sectors.

“It shows manufacturing jobs have been reducing, and that could be an opportunity for that industry to look at turning that around,” she said.

“There is work needed to be done, to make sure that businesses are looking at what they will need and not wait until that point to fill those roles.”

Ms Russell said one of the major challenges for both employers and potential jobseekers related to being able to access the right resources to help them, which led to the committee creating the Employ Toowoomba website.

“There is a break in the chain of communication, there is so much information, it’s hard to find the right information when we need it,” she said.

“There is a lot of help out there for people seeking work or looking to be upskilled, but not everybody knows where to find that (and) there are also employers seeking workers and needing them.”

Ms Russell said the report also recommended running more virtual jobs fairs and working with stakeholders and major project managers about the future workforce needs.

Looking long-term, the strategy recommended supporting initiatives that removed barriers to work, such as poor public transport, housing affordability and bad internet connectivity.

Ms Russell said improving language skills for members of the migrant community could be a major source of employment.

“The barrier of language is huge – there are many migrant workers that have skills, but because they don’t have strong English ability, they aren’t able to contribute (as well),” she said.

The strategy can be found at employtoowoomba.org.au, with feedback on the draft welcomed until March 12.