Technology and project complexity are forcing the infrastructure industry to face unprecedented change and skills need to catch up quickly, according to a paper released by TAFE NSW.

High activity volumes are already making skills shortages apparent, while increased digitisation and the trend to automation means the sector will require a significant influx of new workers over the next decade, and extensive reskilling of current workers – that’s the assessment of the present infrastructure workforce by TAFE NSW.

It’s thought leadership report proposes that “soft skills are becoming more important in the infrastructure sector due to the increasing complexity of projects. This is driving demand for skills such as systems thinking, communication, collaboration and problem solving.”

One of a series of reports examining workplace evolution to 2030, the 17-page report focused on infrastructure concludes, “Australian industry has entered a period of unprecedented change. These changes are inevitable, but how employers respond is what will determine future success.”

Find out more and download The Evolution of Skills in Infrastructure here.