REGIONAL Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) has released a new study that highlights the growing labour and skills shortages in the region.

The report shows these will pose a significant barrier to economic growth.

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Conducted by Charles Sturt University (CSU), the 2024 Skills Audit identifies several critical challenges, including labour and skills shortages, skills gaps, limited vocational training, and infrastructure issues such as housing affordability and access to early childcare education.

The report reveals that the Mid North Coast (MNC) has a lower proportion of working-age individuals compared to the state average, making it more difficult for businesses to find the skilled workers they need.

At the same time, the region is experiencing a significant outflow of skilled individuals, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, aged care, and construction.

The study also underscores the region’s limited access to vocational training, which forces many workers to travel to larger cities for education.

Other key challenges highlighted in the report include the lack of affordable housing, insufficient childcare services, and inadequate infrastructure such as transport and digital connectivity, all of which hinder both workers and businesses.

RDAMNC’s CEO, Dr Madeleine Lawler, said, “The Mid North Coast is experiencing pressure in the labour market across many of the key industry sectors like health and social care, construction and manufacturing.

“We know we need to be working collectively across the region to trial community led solutions over the next few years to ensure we are being as responsive to the needs of industry as possible.

“We have the bones we need but we need to improve connections by working together.”

The report’s recommendations to address the identified issues include the development of a cohesive regional housing strategy aligned with workforce planning; universal access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) to support workforce participation, particularly for women; strengthening the regional skills ecosystem through closer collaboration between employers, training providers, and community services and enhancing infrastructure to improve transport, housing, and digital connectivity across the region.

By Andrew VIVIAN