State of the Tourism Workforce in Tasmania

Tourism is considered the new engine of economic development for Tasmania, particularly its perceived role in job creation. Government, industry and the people of Tasmania all share aspirations for a prosperous state which provides opportunities for people to thrive. These aspirations are founded on the combination of a modern economy, which creates jobs for Tasmanians, and improving educational outcomes. Government policy focus to improve educational performance also anticipates future success across a range of social, health and economic domains. The promotion of tourism to achieve these goals is common and is considered a promising future industry in many regional places. However, evidence suggests a mismatch between the government’s education policies and industry development activities. Jobs created in tourism do not require high levels of educational attainment or skill. This chapter profiles the tourism workforce in Tasmania and discusses the promises and realities for improving the living standards of Tasmanians.