The future demand for employability skills: a new dimension to labour market forecasting in Australia

In recent years there has been considerable interest in employability skills, both in Australia and overseas. In 2001, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council of Australia undertook a major research project designed to provide the Department of Education, Science and Training with a detailed understanding of the employability skills needs of industry. The research was published by the Commonwealth of Australia in 2002 as the report Employability Skills for the Future. In the report, employability skills are defined as 'skills required not only to gain employment, but also to progress within an enterprise to achieve one's potential and contribute successfully to enterprise strategic directions'. The report also identifies an Employability Skills Framework which incorporates eight key skill groupings.