By Olivia Condous
Half of workers in the western suburbs are commuting outside of the region for work while local employers struggle to find skilled staff, according to new research from Victoria University (VU).
The Centre for International Research on Education Systems at the Mitchell Institute has released a report highlighting the mismatch between skills and jobs in the west, exploring the needs of the region’s industry based on surveys and interviews with 700 employers.
According to the report, economic modelling showed that the region’s high commuting rates will continue over the next decade unless an estimated 19,500 new local jobs are created, in order to maintain the current rate.
Victoria University research fellow Melissa Tham said the high number of commuters would continue to be an issue into the future.
“There is this added impetus for more focus on local jobs in the west compared to other areas around Melbourne, just because there is such a huge population boom that is forecasted to accelerate in the next ten years,” Cr Tham said.
Dr Tham said the recommendation made by the report was to build upon existing structures to create more jobs.
The report included a study of Sunshine, stating there’s a great potential for further diversity of job growth in the area.
According to the report, Sunshine could develop into an economic growth hub, with a number of key industries including healthcare positions at Sunshine hospital, legal and professional roles in the magistrates court and educational based jobs within Victoria University.
“We’re not suggesting that we have to completely reinvent the west or anything like that,” Dr Tham said.
“Our approach, which is based on evidence, is to boost the number of local jobs in a particular area by just adding on to existing infrastructure.”
