(Photo – Quynh Cottrell moved from Vietnam to Australia in search of a better life for her family. Credit: ABC Gippsland – Danielle Kutchel)
As Australia’s clean energy transition gains momentum, so too does the need for a workforce that can sustain it. Recent estimates suggest more than 200,000 workers will be required by 2030 to meet national net-zero goals. The question is—where will these workers come from?
A recent report from The Next Economy, featured by the ABC, argues that inclusive hiring must sit at the heart of the solution. At Jobsbank, we couldn’t agree more.
At the time of the article’s publication, Jobsbank CEO Dr Karina Davis was interviewed by the ABC on this very issue. She shared her insights on the barriers that exist within conventional recruitment and the opportunity employers now have to reimagine how they engage talent.
“If you have a diverse workforce,” Dr Davis told the ABC, “there’s greater productivity, greater retention, much less attrition, and greater problem-solving.”
The message is clear: building a future-ready workforce requires employers to look beyond traditional pathways. Migrant communities, people with disability, disengaged youth and other underrepresented groups represent a deep pool of potential—often overlooked due to structural and cultural barriers in hiring.
As Dr Davis pointed out, this is not just a moral imperative. It’s a business one. The clean energy sector can’t afford to ignore untapped talent if it hopes to meet the scale and speed of its growth targets.
At Jobsbank, we work directly with employers to identify and remove these barriers—helping organisations embed inclusive recruitment practices that expand reach, improve outcomes, and build lasting capability.
The energy transition is one of the greatest challenges—and opportunities—of our time. If we do it right, we’ll not only build the workforce we need, but help create a fairer, more inclusive society where climate action and social equity move forward together.
ABC article:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-09/diversity-required-to-fill-clean-energy-workforce-shortages/105010460
