The Region is suffering from a skills and worker shortage where increasingly Companies are having to look outside the Region or the Country to find the skills and workers needed to run their businesses. In addition, the rapid rise of new technology is changing the nature of many of our Regions jobs, where new skills are required to keep pace with the rest of the world.

The need to develop this awareness in the Region and then expand our training capacity to meet our future needs is a focus of BGEA.  It has a role, in conjunction with our Regions industries, educators, and Government to continue to develop these capabilities so that we are able to attract and retain a world class workforce.

BGEA in conjunction with the Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI) ran a one-day Future Jobs and Skills Expo in Bunbury in 2021 and a Future Jobs and Skills Virtual Conference in 2022. Both events aimed to show case how innovation is being applied in various industries locally, Nationally and Internationally and what skills are needed to meet these future requirements and how can they be attained. In 2023 BGEA and BGCCI completed a series of workshops with representatives of key industry sectors and related training providers which considered the future skills needs of industry and how these could be developed more effectively in the Region. The report and recommendations on completion of the workshops was provided to relevant State Government and local Agencies for consideration and action.

BGEA will continue to work with its members and other training and employment organisations on initiatives which promote skills development in the Region.