Tech-unis have a solution to Australia’s productivitychallenge: unlock the potential of our people
The Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN Universities) is calling for the next phase ofAustralia’s productivity agenda to be an investment in people. It’s almost a year since the Commonwealth Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable, yet we are going backwards in a critical area. The Productivity Commission reported a fall in labour productivity for the March 2026 quarter of0.6 per cent.
The ATN Universities argue a greater focus on lifelong learning, skills matching, and industry-connected education will be critical to building a more productive workforce and lifting economic growth.
In its Productivity solutions paper: building a stronger, fairer economy for Australia, ATN Universities outlines 25 practical recommendations to strengthen Australia’s skills pipeline, improve workforce participation, and help industry access the talent and innovation it needs to grow.
Chief among ATN Universities’ recommendations is for universities, industry and government to co-fund work-integrated learning and make it universal for all students.
Between them, the ATN universities educate over 240,000 students, produce around one-third of Australia’s engineering, building and architecture graduates, and one-in-four IT graduates. ATN Universities Executive Director Dr Andy Marks said experience has shown the network what works, and the solutions start with people.
“Productivity isn’t just about economics. It’s about people. Every business, industry and community relies on people with the skills to support and contribute. We have no shortage of talent in this country, but we need to be better at connecting people with education. We need to get better at linking education with industry, and better at focusing on research with real-world impact.”
“We have the means and resources to ensure all Australians can be equipped with the skills, opportunities and support they need to bring their full potential to the workforce. That’s how we build a stronger, more resilient economy. Over the past year, the Government has taken important steps to strengthen Australia’s economic settings. The next phase of reform should focus on deepening our national capability by investing in skills, education and research. Fully funding work-integrated learning is the most effective way to turn Australia’s productivity problem into a solution by drawing on our greatest asset, people.”
The ATN’s paper calls for expanded support for work-integrated learning and student placements. It maps clearer pathways between education and employment, while calling for a more effective lifelong learning system, especially for people from regional areas, low socioeconomic backgrounds, and those living with disabilities.
The paper also highlights international education, global research partnerships and workforce mobility as areas of interest to strengthen Australia’s economic resilience and global trade efforts.
Dr Marks said that efforts to improve productivity shouldn’t be framed in terms of numbers alone, but as an opportunity to expand capability for Australians and our national workforce.
“We need to remove the barriers that prevent people from accessing education. We must focus on developing the new skills that will help as many Australians as possible find meaningful work. That means more flexible ways of learning. It means expanding pathways for work-integrated learning. And it means ensuring that every Australian has the chance to contribute to our economy.”
“We already know these approaches work because they’re happening across ATN’s member universities every day. Our universities are working with industry, government, and communities to equip Australians with the skills employers need and create clear pathways from education to employment. Now it’s time to take these proven models and scale them nationally.”
Media Contact (not for publication)
e info@atn.edu.au
Facts about the ATN Universities
We educate 244,500 students nationally.
We produce 34% of Australia’s architecture and building graduates.
We produce 27% of Australia’s engineering graduates, and one-in-four IT graduates.
Over 35% of Australia’s total offshore international student enrolments are with the ATN Universities.
We partner in $1.6 billion in research projects around the country.
We have generated $126 million in equity held in startups.
