Jobs and Skills Australia surveys around 1000 employers each month to understand their recruitment experiences and staffing expectations. The monthly survey reports provide data on recruitment activity, difficulty, staffing outlook, reasons for recruiting and more.

This working paper explores how major economic forces are transforming the way Australians develop skills across their working lives. The paper highlights why lifelong learning is becoming essential for individuals, employers and the broader economy. It presents evidence and insights on four key dynamics that are driving the growing importance of lifelong learning.

A disability module in the Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey examines employer attitudes, recruitment practices, workplace adjustments, use of supports, and barriers to hiring people with disability. The findings offer a comprehensive snapshot of inclusive employment approaches, highlighting factors that shape participation, decision-making, and opportunities for people with disability across diverse labour market contexts nationally.

People with disability make up a significant share of Australia’s working-age population but continue to face challenges in the labour market. This report highlights these challenges, identifies a sizeable job‑ready cohort, and outlines opportunities to unlock their potential through inclusive employment and targeted support.

The research paper is a focused extension of the VET workforce study. It brings together insights into accredited training from First Nations voices, national datasets and stakeholders to strengthen understanding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce within vocational education and training (VET) and what’s needed to support its growth.