The Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, and the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, today announced that the Productivity Commission will research factors impacting on the early childhood, schooling and vocational training workforces.
The Productivity Commission will look at current and future demand and supply within these sectors and investigate ways to structure and develop these workforces.
The study will consider factors that impact on each sector's workforce, such as remuneration, working conditions, retention, training and support structures.
It will also look at what level of skills and knowledge these workforces need to deliver quality education in these sectors.
The Productivity Commission will report on each workforce sector separately over the next two years, beginning with vocational training in mid 2011.
Research on the early childhood sector will be available later in 2011 and the report into schooling is scheduled for release in 2012.
The commission will consult with relevant professionals and interested parties as part of its research.
The study will provide valuable input to the work of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to strengthen Australia's education and training workforces.
Further information can be found at the Productivity Commission's website www.pc.gov.au.