Future of work in Australia: Jobs and Skills Summit

On 1 September 2022 and 2 September 2022, the Australian Parliament will host the Federal Government's 'Jobs and Skills Summit' which will bring together politicians, business and union leaders to address shared economic challenges. Following the summit, an 'Employment White Paper' will be prepared which will likely be the blueprint for the Australian Government's workplace and industrial relations reform agenda.

With the jobless rate at a 48-year low of 3.5% in June 2022, businesses will be calling for reform to rules around skilled migration. Other voices at the Summit will target 'insecure work' which is typically associated with forms of employment other than full-time and part-time work such as gig-economy style employment, casual employment and use of successive fixed-term contracts. Criminalising wage theft and improving access to pay equity, particularly for women, will also be a focus.