The new national Manufacturing Industry Skills Council is the voice of over 75,000 businesses employing almost one million Australians, and co-ordinates research on manufacturing skills needs through a range of Government activities, programs and strategies.

The role of the Council, now known as Manufacturing Skills Australia, is to assist industries, enterprises, and their workforces to integrate skill development with business goals and to support high quality, nationally recognised training products and services.

At an enterprise level these activities help businesses to develop skilled workforces, access new technology, and achieve greater commercial success.

Industry-wide, the Council’s activities help the key Australian manufacturing sectors of metals and aerospace, process manufacturing, and textiles, clothing and footwear and furnishing continue to play a pivotal role in the national economy.