Transversal capabilities workshop discussion paper

A key to addressing youth unemployment and workforce shortages is enabling young people to develop several kinds of skills.

At a glance

This paper considers the role of Australia's vocational training system in developing the employability of young people. It identifies the misalignment between current training courses and the changing labour market and proposes a new way of thinking about the types of skills that contribute to employability.

Dive deeper 

This discussion paper was presented at one of a series of National Youth Employment Body (NYEB) System Design Workshops where employers, industry, community, government and training stakeholders worked together on a shared ambition to address youth unemployment and workforce development challenges.

Strengthening the role of skills and training is vital for building career entry and mobility of young people while also providing the skilled workforce needed by employers. Responding to the systemic challenges identified by participants at earlier workshops, the authors argue that the concept of transversal capability helps to cut through the confusion about which skills matter. They point to the need to design training that enables young people to concurrently develop technical, general employability and industry-specific transferable skill.