A call for action at the Jobs & Skills Summit. It’s make or break for the public relations industry

As the Jobs & Skills Summit kicks off in Canberra today, millions of business owners, like myself, wait with bated breath to learn what policymakers and decision influencers will come up with to address the skills shortage and worker immigration crisis – and how quickly they can make change.

The Public Relations industry for too long has been reliant on importing consultants, there’s a lack of volume of talent coming through the ranks with the fundamental skills required; elitism in comms course access to overcome; ageism (for women in particular); a lack of diversity is rife and a silent issue; and the lack of childcare access alongside exorbitant costs, does the industry no justice.

Couple all of this with the fact that communications professionals have never been in such high demand since the pandemic, especially in sectors such as technology and health, and you could say it’s the perfect storm – and possibly an industry crisis (I think opportunity) that’s never been seen before.