In a move reminiscent of the Training Guarantee legislation enacted in 1990 that required employers with an annual payroll exceeding a certain threshold (initially $200,00) to spend a minimum amount on employee training, the ACTU is calling on the Albanese Government ahead of its economic reform roundtable to resuscitate this type of training levy on businesses to upskill workers to meet the demands of a "modern economy", including energy transition, diversification and AI.

In a move reminiscent of the Training Guarantee legislation enacted in 1990 that required employers with an annual payroll exceeding a certain threshold (initially $200,00) to spend a minimum amount on employee training, the ACTU is calling on the Albanese Government ahead of its economic reform roundtable to resuscitate a 1990s training levy on businesses to upskill workers to meet the demands of a "modern economy", including energy transition, diversification and AI.

Citing recent CEDA research showing that fewer workers are receiving training, and those who do, receive less time to do it, the ACTU says a new a national skills levy "would compel medium to large employers to contribute to the cost of training workers – something they are currently failing to do"

The Australian Industry Group (AIG) points to findings in its latest industry outlook survey that training is "top of the investment priority list, with 42% of businesses planning to maintain their investment and 40% reported planning to increase their investment in staff training".

While the Ai group "supports creating a culture of lifelong learning in Australia", it says the 1990s program "didn't work then and it won't work now".

It will be very interesting on what initiatives and agreement the protagonists around the Economic Round Table will come up with. More to come.