Wide Bay food and beverage workforce plan

Jobs Queensland has partnered with Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers and local industry stakeholders to develop the Wide Bay Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industry Workforce Development Plan.

Jobs Queensland Board Chair Jim Varghese AM said: “Jobs Queensland’s employment projections anticipate Wide Bay to be the fastest growing region in Queensland, with over 130,000 people employed by 2025–26.

“This workforce development plan harnesses the voice of local stakeholders to meet workforce challenges and provide Wide Bay residents with access to rewarding work.”

The plan highlights four key goals to address workforce challenges specific to the industry and region: to meet future skills; improve workforce attraction and retention; enhance training pathways and opportunities; and build business capability.

Key strategies to achieve these goals include developing targeted recruitment campaigns to attract skilled talent.

The plan will also see training programs implemented which are customised to the industry’s needs.

A new culture of innovation will be promoted in the industry and new market opportunities identified for food and beverage products manufactured in Wide Bay.

The workforce plan also aims to assess the resilience of the supply chain and establish partnerships with other stakeholders to advance the industry.

The top five occupations across the industry are factory process workers, specialist managers, mobile plant operators, business, human resources and marketing professionals, and farm, forestry and garden workers, and these strategies will help ensure there is a pipeline of workers to fill these roles and more.

The plan is part of the Grow Your Own Regional Workforce Program — a three-year, $4.5 million initiative to support locally led workforce planning initiatives.

Jim Randell, Chair Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Limited, said: “Bundaberg Food and Vegetable Growers are pleased to endorse this workforce plan to sustain the success of our industry into the future.

“We look forward to seeing the positive impacts on our local growers and communities who benefit from the massive food bowl that is Bundaberg and the Wide Bay region.”