The WA Government has launched a mission update to the state STEM skills strategy to build skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Research shows that 1.5 million workers in Western Australia will need some reskilling in coming years due to changes enabled by technologies such as AI and advanced data analytics.
With STEM jobs growing at twice the rate of other jobs, building stronger STEM skills will help to ensure everyone can participate in emerging opportunities.
The mission update – Future State, Future Skills: Accelerating STEM skills for Western Australia – expands on the first state STEM skills strategy launched in 2019.
It builds on the success of STEM-related initiatives and has 3 priority action areas:
- Career pathways and industry links: showcasing opportunities and fostering industry engagement to support education and training.
- Diversity and inclusion: attracting and retaining under-represented groups in STEM.
- STEM culture and literacy: building awareness, positive attitudes and foundational STEM literacy skills.
Future State, Future Skills connects to the economic framework Diversify WA and Future State: Accelerating Diversify WA, with all priority industry sectors supported by and in need of future STEM skills.
The mission update aims to enhance industry involvement in the STEM education and skills pipeline, guiding from early childhood through school education to vocational education and training (VET) and university.
