Priority 4: Showcase manufacturing and support a skilled and inclusive workforce

To build a resilient, sustainable local manufacturing industry, we must showcase Queensland's existing and emerging strengths and develop a diverse and highly skilled workforce.

Showcasing our strengths

Our local manufacturing industry is diverse, innovative and technologically advanced, and plays a vital role in the economy.

The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and events such as Australian Manufacturing Week and the National Manufacturing Summit will increase the international profile of the Queensland manufacturing industry.

Unique Queensland products from First Nations manufacturers—supporting art and tourism, clothing and textiles and food and beverages—will have the opportunity to be showcased to the world.

Queensland's vibrant artisan distillers and brewers will also be on show, particularly as global visitors seek out Queensland's niche offerings.

Skilling our workforce

Manufacturing occupations encompass a wide range of roles involved in producing goods—for example, production managers, engineers, data analysts, welders, fabricators, and roles in supply chain and logistics, human resources, quality assurance and leadership. These positions can be found across various sectors, including defence, medical, resources, food and beverage, energy and more.

We will continue to support vocational education and training (VET) and higher education to train and upskill future workers. This includes promoting careers in manufacturing to:

primary and secondary school students, parents and schools
underrepresented cohorts such as women, First Nations people and people with different lived experiences such as disability, diverse sexuality, gender identity and culturally diverse backgrounds.

It is vital that we can attract and retain a diverse workforce.

The Queensland Government's Women in Manufacturing Program encourages the attraction and retention of women in Queensland's manufacturing industry. Women comprise around 27 per cent of the manufacturing workforce in Queensland, but are still underrepresented in technical and trades roles and overrepresented in clerical and administrative roles.

Our manufacturing hubs work with vocational providers, higher education providers, the ARM Hub and Manufacturing Skills Queensland to identify on-the-ground manufacturing skills gaps to inform skills and training solutions. The manufacturing hubs also tap into skills programs that are delivered through the Australian Government.

Manufacturing Skills Queensland

Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) is an independent body supported by the Queensland Government, aiming to build a sustainably skilled workforce for a future-proofed manufacturing industry.

MSQ seeks to identify emerging training needs and future skills. It delivers a range of programs to engage and support employers and the workforce, including the procurement of training providers for delivery of quality training and qualifications.

ARM Hub

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub's mission is to accelerate the creation and adoption of next-generation technologies to scale manufacturers to grow the nation's industrial capability.

The ARM Hub works with companies to integrate robotics, artificial intelligence and other Industry 4.0 technologies into manufacturing operations, to increase efficiencies, optimise workforces and become more competitive.

Priority 4 actions

We'll work with Australian Government agencies, industry, procurement and supply chain specialists, and the vocational education and training (VET) sector to achieve our priority actions.

Actions	Lead Qld agencies
4.1 Position Queensland's manufacturing industry as an exciting and diverse industry with a range of roles across trade and professional, and technologies from automation and robotics to design and engineering.	NRMMRRD
4.2 Support the attraction and retention of a highly skilled and inclusive workforce to meet current and emerging manufacturing workforce needs including underrepresented cohorts such as women, First Nations peoples, migrants and people with different lived experiences.	NRMMRRD DTET DWATSIPM
4.3 Leverage Queensland's Trade and Investment Strategy 2022–2032 to attract international talent and skills to Queensland to support economic growth and development.	NRMMRRD TIQ
4.4 Identify emerging training needs and future skills in collaboration with industry, vocational and higher education providers, the ARM Hub, Manufacturing Skills Queensland and the Australian Government.	NRMMRRD DTET
4.5 As part of Destination 2045: Delivering Queensland's Tourism Future: strengthen strategic, trade and aviation marketing partnerships, including delivering a trade mission program (on and offshore) to showcase Queensland products raise awareness of Queensland's quality products through cooperative marketing activity with selected trade and commercial partners targeting international consumers leverage the Queensland 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Queensland's diverse events portfolio to market, promote and package Queensland globally.	NRMMRRD DETSI DWATSIPM TIQ DSROPG

Last updated: 24 September 2025
Last reviewed: 24 September 2025