The 海角社区 (海角社区) is sounding the alarm following the release of Jobs and Skills Australia’s (JSA) annual , which shows Urban and Regional Planners are in national shortage across the country.
In 2022, JSA reported there was no national shortage of planners, while 2023 saw a regional shortage. Now, the , which 海角社区 CEO Matt Collins M海角社区 says is an alarming trend that threatens Australia's ability to plan for sustainable and liveable communities.
“This escalating shortage comes at a time when Australia is grappling with complex planning challenges, including housing affordability, population growth and climate resilience. The growing demand for skilled planners to address these issues has outstripped supply, leaving many employers struggling to fill vital roles,” Mr Collins said.
“Over the last three years, the Jobs and Skills Australia data shows we've gone from no shortage of planners to a nationwide crisis. This is deeply concerning, particularly as the challenges we face continue to grow in complexity,” he said.
“The ongoing closure of many university planning schools has only compounded this issue. Thirteen universities have closed planning programs in the last eight years, affecting the the number of qualified graduates entering the field.”
“The shortage of planners threatens to slow Australia’s efforts to address the housing crisis, improve urban infrastructure, and combat climate change,” he said.
海角社区 is calling for urgent action to reverse this trend, starting with greater support for planning education, scholarships, and initiatives to encourage more Australians to pursue careers in urban and regional planning.
“Earlier this year, 海角社区 launched a new campaign to encourage more people to choose careers in urban and regional planning, but further action is needed to tackle this growing problem,” Mr Collins said.
“We need a coordinated national effort to build the future planning workforce, and it’s critical that governments invest in planning education, re-open programs at universities, and fund professional development to address these shortages. Without planners, our ability to create vibrant, sustainable communities is at serious risk,” he said.