The Forge Your Career in Metals and Manufacturing program at the Wagga Wagga TAFE campus has officially launched, thanks to a collaboration between Invest Regional NSW, Training Services NSW, and TAFE NSW.
The innovative program aims to encourage more young people in the Riverina region to explore careers in the metals and manufacturing industry. As a key employer in the area, manufacturing accounts for 8.8 percent of the workforce, yet the industry faces a significant challenge with an aging workforce—its median age being 42 years.
This eight-week initiative will engage 12 local high school students, offering them hands-on experience in welding, manufacturing, and design while exposing them to various trade pathways in the metals industry.
With people aged 15-24 making up only 15.4 percent of Riverina’s working population, the program seeks to tap into this demographic to create a new generation of skilled workers. The importance of a younger workforce is further highlighted by the growing demand for skilled labour, particularly in the emerging renewables sector. Growing the local manufacturing workforce is a key priority for the government, and attracting more young people to careers in the industry is critical to ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled workers across the range of technical roles.
This program has been a key initiative of the Targeted Workforce Development Scheme funded under the Regional Investment Activation Program.