National Skills Passport

The Albanese Government will progress a National Skills Passport, in consultation with industry and governments, as part of our efforts to help workers promote their qualifications and businesses find more skilled workers. 

As a direct result of the Employment White Paper set to be released tomorrow, the Government will prepare a business case to define the scope, outcomes and benefits of a National Skills Passport.

A National Skills Passport has the potential to make it easier for employees to demonstrate their skills, change jobs and upskill, while making it simpler for employers to hire new staff with the skills and qualifications they need.  

This initiative forms part of our efforts to promote lifelong learning, which is a key reform direction outlined in the Employment White Paper.

A Skills Passport could combine a person’s qualifications across VET and higher education to more effectively demonstrate their skills to employers. 

The Government will consult widely with businesses, unions, tertiary institutions, states and territories and students in scoping an integrated National Skills Passport to better understand the needs and demands on different parties.  

The Government is committing $9.1 million to support a business case and consultation to inform Government decision making.  

The Government’s vision is for a dynamic and inclusive labour market where everyone has the opportunity for secure, fairly paid work and people, businesses and communities can be beneficiaries of change and thrive.

By better matching skilled workers with the businesses that need them most, we can help realise our vision for a brighter working future. 

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Jim Chalmers: 

“For more and more workers in the future, their education won’t finish when they graduate school or complete their apprenticeship – they’ll need to continue to re-train, renew and re-skill. 
 
“Our goal is to make it easier for workers to have their qualifications recognised and easier for employers to find the well-trained, highly-qualified workers they need. 

“It’s vital that we build a more agile and adaptable labour force. Our economy is rapidly changing, and the demands on workers and employers are changing too.

“We want to make it easier for more workers in more industries to adapt and adopt new technology and to grab the opportunities on offer in the defining decade ahead of us.” 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“With more and more jobs requiring a post-school qualification, it is increasingly necessary for people to upskill and reskill throughout their careers.  

“A National Skills Passport could make it easier for employees to demonstrate the skills they have, and for employers to have confidence that employees have the skills they need.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor: 

“The Albanese Government recognises the urgency of the skills crisis facing the nation and is building the skilled economy for the future. 

“While our focus is on the skills shortages our economy is facing right now, we are also planning for the skills that will be needed in critical areas of emerging demand. 

“Ensuring students’ skills are recognised so they can upskill, reskill and find work as the economy changes, is crucial.”