Major digital industry leaders have joined forces to sign a landmark initiative that aims to tackle the state's projected digital skills shortfall by 2030.
The 20% Alternative Pathways Pledge, signed by partners of the NSW Digital Skills and Workforce Compact, commits organisations to ensuring that 20% of their entry-level digital hires come from alternative educational pathways.
As part of the NSW Digital Compact, this initiative represents a collaborative effort between government, education providers, and the digital industry to address the anticipated shortfall of 85,000 digital workers across NSW by 2030.
Alternative pathways, such as vocational education and training (VET) courses, traineeships, micro-credentials, bootcamps, earn-while-you-learn models, and vendor certifications, offer accessible and practical routes into the digital workforce beyond traditional university education.
The pledge is designed to enhance equity and diversity within the digital sector. By 2030, it is expected to:
• Add 31,000 workers from diverse backgrounds. • Increase the proportion of women in tech roles by 7%. • Double the representation of First Nations Australians in tech roles. • Boost the share of people with disabilities in tech roles by 4%.
The commitment also strengthens the role of VET as a critical pathway into the digital sector, helping to address ongoing skills shortages and raising its profile within the industry.
The pledge reflects a collective commitment from leading organisations such as Microsoft, Commonwealth Bank, and Accenture Australia. These signatories demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative action in addressing workforce challenges and creating a more inclusive and competitive digital economy.
This initiative supports the state's strategic efforts to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, while also opening doors for individuals from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in the growing digital sector.
