The 2019 Workforce Skills Survey released by the NSW Business Chamber released at the start of National Skills Week reveals the state-wide workforce shortage has widened significantly, with job vacancies growing from 54,000 in 2017 to 82,000 in 2019.

Illawarra Business Chamber executive director Adam Zarth said of Illawarra businesses surveyed, half indicated that the skills shortages experienced were in trade skills and 72 per cent of businesses indicated that skills shortages were increasing workloads for existing staff.

Mr Zarth said that the survey results highlighted the need for a greater emphasis on training the next generation in order to sustain the region's economic growth.

"This widening workforce and skills gap will hamper our economy unless action is taken to address the mismatch between the skills young people are obtaining and the skills businesses require," he said.

"A key area of under-performance is in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, where Queensland is delivering almost four times as many as NSW.

"Locally, only 8.6 per cent of Illawarra businesses reported employing a school-based apprentice or trainee, so we are calling for these to be doubled across the state each year.

"48 per cent of Illawarra businesses said that the education system was not adequately equipping young people to enter the workforce, so we are also calling for industry-based career advice for students and parents starting in year nine for all schools in NSW".

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