GMC CEO Jenn Conley was featured in the Geelong Advertiser this week calling for skilled migration to be recognised as a key part of the solution to regional workforce shortages.
The article highlighted that local apprenticeships, training and workforce development remain essential, but could not meet every skills gap. Migration settings tailored to regional needs would help businesses lift production, unlock investment and deliver housing, infrastructure and energy projects.
“Manufacturing has always been one of the great engines of opportunity in this country.”
Highlighting the importance of migration to supporting positive manufacturing and community outcomes, long-time GMC member, CMTP was called out in the Australian Senate recently with Senator Paul Scarr giving a shout out to CMTP’s exemplary record of multicultural and refugee employment. Founded in 1976, CMTP is a family-owned manufacturer that has grown from a single site to 11 sites, employing around 270 people. It’s a showcase of the value and importance of migration to the Geelong region’s future. Manufacturing matters to Australia and migrants matter to manufacturing.
Federal politics has become increasingly consumed by the headline net overseas migration figure, with discussions centred around the challenges of housing affordability and urban infrastructure pressures. Housing and infrastructure pressures are real, but reducing the workforce to solve them is not the answer.
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