The evolution of Australia’s rail workforce
A booming infrastructure pipeline, emerging technologies and a steep retirement cliff are adding to longstanding workforce challenges across the Australian rail sector.
By 2035, 27 percent of today’s rail workers will have reached retirement age. At the same time, the sector will be seeking new skills to build and operate digital train control, intelligent transport and decarbonisation technologies.
Through the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP) we are supporting the development of a national curriculum for digital skills for rail, and helping to lift successful strategies aimed at encouraging a more diverse cohort of workers to start and progress their career in rail.
Growing digital rail skills
By 2027, nearly 40 percent of existing rail workers will be affected by digital technologies.
Right now, the digital competency of rail workers varies greatly. Digital skills training needs to account for this and for the different types of skills that specific roles require.
Working closely with industry we have developed a Future Skills Framework. The Framework provides clarity around future skills demand.
It identifies the new technologies that are driving demand, and the 16 critical roles and associated skills needed to build, run and maintain them.
The Framework also identifies adaptive skills. These are the social and cognitive skills that all workers will need as changes to the sector affect their day-to-day tasks. Adaptive skills include:
- Digital literacy
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Learning agility
- Teamwork and collaboration
Right now, we are working on nationally-recognised learning pathways in all these areas that will support the interoperability of our rail system.
To start with we are:
- working with the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and Industry Skills Australia (ISA) to develop common role titles, responsibilities and other elements that support mutual recognition of rail workers’ skills. This will make it easier for workers to move across networks and support the interoperability of our rail system.
- delivering a pilot to lift foundational digital skills across the rail workforce. This includes workers from Queensland Rail, VicTrack and V/Line.
Creating a more inclusive and diverse industry
Many of the skills that rail needs are in demand around the world.
To compete for this talent, rail needs to show that it offers a flexible, welcoming and inclusive workplace.
Individual rail organisations have been doing this with some success.
Through the National Rail Action Plan, we’re working with the ARA and industry to take local success stories and expand them for greater impact.
This includes pilot programs that will make it easier for women, young people and people from different backgrounds to start and progress a career in rail.
How to participate
If you'd like to express interest in the National Rail Action Plan and program, or ask us a question about our work, send us an email as we'd like to hear from you.
