Workforce development in tropical northern Australia: Bring skills in or develop from within?

In tropical northern Australia the intersection of workforce shortages, high turnover and geographic location impact workforce sustainability. Inevitably, business leaders find themselves considering how to build workforces within the constraints experienced in tropical regional areas. When it comes to workforce development, the enduring question is about talent acquisition and capability. This study focused on tropical northern Queensland, a region in northern Australia ripe for economic growth, yet impacted by workforce shortages. A rapid review of the literature identified and synthesised publications about workforce development in the region to identify the key workforce development strategies utilised. The literature review identified four overarching themes that characterise workforce development strategies in northern Queensland: individual capability, industry strategies, organisational strategies, and regionalisation. The study concludes that given the changing demographic, technological and societal landscape in the region, a multi-tiered approach is needed. The findings suggest that a workforce development ecosystem could create a path towards workforce sustainability for regional areas negating the internal versus external recruitment, retention and skills development dilemma. Workforce development ecosystems could support ongoing workforce sustainability for business development in the regions with characteristics similar to those of tropical northern Australia.