RDA Hume has identified workforce attraction, retention and development as a major regional challenge and a key driver of economic growth, business sustainability and community resilience. While the Hume region has strong industries in health, education, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, it continues to face high job vacancies, persistent skills shortages and barriers to workforce participation. These issues are shaped by skills mismatches, labour market competition and seasonal work patterns, as well as broader challenges such as housing, childcare, transport and digital connectivity.

In response, RDA Hume led the development of the Hume Regional Workforce Strategy 2026-29 (Strategy). The Strategy provides a shared roadmap to guide action over the next 4 years. It has been designed to identify workforce gaps, quantify skills shortages, highlight effective place-based practice and set out coordinated interventions that support long-term, transformational change.

The Strategy is grounded in workforce data and regional intelligence and is intended to support stronger collaboration across government, industry, employers, education and training providers, community organisations and First Nations partners. It focuses on aligning skills and jobs priorities, strengthening future-focused education and training models, supporting flexible and technology-enabled workforce approaches, improving participation and inclusion, and backing First Nations-led economic development.

RDA Hume played a leading role in engaging regional stakeholders to shape the Strategy. 15 stakeholder sessions were held, with more than 70 organisations represented across industry, education and training, local, state and federal government, community organisations and First Nations groups.

This collaborative and place-based approach helped ensure the Strategy reflects local economic conditions, employer needs and community priorities. It also strengthened regional partnerships and created a more coordinated platform for future advocacy, investment and implementation.

The Strategy establishes a strong framework for coordinated regional action and sets out a clear vision for a growing, inclusive and resilient region where people, businesses and investment can thrive. It positions RDA Hume as a regional connector and advocate and identifies practical priority areas for support, including:

• place-based workforce planning
• regional skills and training innovation
• strengthened migration pathways
• investment in enabling infrastructure such as housing and childcare
• support for First Nations-led workforce initiatives
• promotion of Hume as a liveable and attractive place to work and build a career.

As an external-facing document, the Strategy will also support future funding advocacy and regional investment attraction. The development process highlighted several important lessons. Workforce shortages need to be understood as broader regional development issues linked to housing, transport, childcare, migration and liveability. It also showed that place-based strategies are most effective when they are locally led, evidence-based and shaped by employer and community input. In addition, the work reinforced the growing importance of digital, artificial intelligence and leadership capability across sectors, as well as the need for inclusive approaches that expand participation and embed First Nations leadership from the outset.

Image Source: RDA Hume (RDA Hume).