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The Roadmap highlights four trends shaping regional workforces. Coastal regional areas are growing quickly, driven by internal migration and housing demand, while many inland regions are growing more slowly. Regional populations are older on average, shrinking the prime age workforce and tightening labour supply over time. Jobs are becoming more skilled and more digital, with growth in both degree level roles and VET pathway roles. Net zero and clean energy investment will concentrate new trade and technical jobs in regional areas through the construction and infrastructure pipeline.
JSA’s emphasis on “home grown” regional workforces sits across all four trends. Regions will only meet demand sustainably if they can train and retain their own people.
For surveying, the implications are direct. Demand will continue to lift in regions experiencing population growth and infrastructure investment. More housing, more development approvals, more construction, and more engineering work all mean more surveying. At the same time, the profession faces a capacity risk if we cannot grow the local workforce. An ageing population and persistent recruitment difficulty will put a ceiling on regional business growth unless we build stronger regional pathways.
This is why Surveyors Australia is focused on practical, place based solutions that align with the Roadmap. Through Surveying Careers, we are building relationships with schools in regional areas so students can see surveying as a real and modern option, not a mystery profession they stumble across later. Career decisions start early, and the visibility gap is a major reason regional students do not choose pathways that are right in front of them. If we want regional surveyors tomorrow, we have to show up in classrooms today.
We are also supporting the growth through the Industry Training Alliance (ITA) Certificate IV and Diploma courses in Surveying that allow students to stay, study, and work at home. For many regional students, the biggest barrier to qualification is having to move away. Local training with local employers removes that hurdle, keeps talent in the region, and gives firms access to job ready surveyors already connected to their communities.
Yesterday’s ITECA Parliamentary Forum reinforced the same logic from an education front line view. The Hon Fiona Nash, Regional Education Commissioner, spoke about the challenge of regional students choosing pathways when they cannot see the careers available to them. You cannot be what you cannot see. She also noted that independent RTOs deliver a larger share of vocational education in regional areas than TAFE, and that VET in schools is growing. Her call was for a stronger focus on home grown regional workforces, meaning training in the region, staying in the region, and working in the region. That aligns directly with both the JSA Roadmap and our surveying priorities.
The opportunity now for Members to help by hosting regional student placements or site visits through Surveying Careers, partnering with local schools and promoting and encouraging local training with ITA, and sharing real vacancy pressures and skills needs with us so we can take solid evidence into the consultations and roundtables.
Regional surveying demand is rising. If we grow the pipeline locally, regional businesses can expand without burning out the people already carrying the load, and regional communities get the infrastructure and services they deserve.
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