The adequacy of SET skill supply is an ongoing concern for Australian industry, governments, and the scientific research community. This concern is shared by many OECD countries, which are experiencing declines in the SET share of higher education enrolments in their countries, coupled with seeming growth in youth disinterest in SET study and careers.
The audit was informed by a comprehensive consultation process, as well as written submissions and reviews of relevant literature. Analysis of existing research on supply and demand of SET skills; a study by The Allen Consulting Group on international demand for Australia’s science, engineering and technology skills; a survey on youth attitudes towards science, mathematics and technology study and SET careers; and an industry survey on current and future demand for SET skills, together with a series of industry studies for industries reliant on these skills, all formed an integral part of the audit process.
The audit found that the proportion of domestic students in SET study across all education and training sectors has remained static or declined in Australia over the past decade, particularly in enabling sciences.
Feedback from audit submissions and consultations highlighted a perception among industry and the vocational and technical education and higher education sectors that many students leaving school were ill-prepared for tertiary study and employment in SET fields. There was also a strong perception that Australia lacks sufficient suitably qualified secondary school science teachers, which impacts adversely in student engagement in SET, as well as a lack of quality careers advice. Negative community perceptions of careers in SET industries and the research sector has also had an effect on young persons’ perceptions of SET careers.
The audit found that international migration may also impact on the availability of SET skills in Australia. The increasing emphasis and associated expenditure on Research and Development (R&D) by Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries may result in a net outflow of Australia’s SET skills in the future.
Australia’s future capacity will be constrained by competition for skilled workers due to the level of international demand for SET skills; difficulties in keeping apace with growth and technological change occurring in SET industries; the availability of adequate infrastructure to support SET in universities; and concerns about support for research careers.