The latest Labour Market Update, released today by Jobs and Skills Australia, found that more than 90 per cent of employment growth has been in occupations requiring a post-secondary school qualification.

Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said universities are key to educating the workers needed to fill present skills gaps in the labour market.

“University-educated workers span our entire economy, making it bigger and stronger than it otherwise would be,” Ms Jackson said.

“Many industries would not be able to operate without them – from engineers and health professionals to lawyers, teachers and information technology specialists.

“These latest results confirm what we already know – we need universities educating more skilled workers to drive our economic growth and prosperity.

“More than half of the one million jobs expected to be created in coming years will require a degree.

“Universities have always been economic drivers – producing skilled workers, pioneering inventions, and driving new processes and knowledge to take Australia forward.”