Fighting Fit

Fighting Fit

The WA economy is off the COVID-19 canvas and punching well above its weight, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA). In its biannual Outlook report, with Premier Mark McGowan in boxing gloves on the cover under the heading “World Title Beckons”, it said the State was well placed to grow at its fastest pace in a decade.

CCIWA chief economist Aaron Morey said the economy was poised to grow 3.1 per cent in 2020/21, after the opening bout with COVID knocked it back to 2010 levels. “Even stronger growth of 3.5 per cent is expected in 2021/22, which would be the fastest growth in the domestic economy for nearly a decade,” he said. Mr Morey said growth was fuelled by strong commodity prices, low interest rates, housing grants, Federal stimulus and success of the WA Government in containing COVID-19.

Challenges continued to be the ongoing skills shortage and Training Alliance Group can attest to the increased and growing demand from employers for new staff with useful skills – particularly in civil construction. The growth in enrolments in TAG’s civil construction and other training courses is testament to the CCIWA’s predictions for ongoing growth across the construction and industrial sector. With record numbers of enrolments and graduates from our courses across Western Australia, TAG is also experiencing a boom, with staff working hard to keep up with the demand from job seekers eager to train in practical skills and to be helped into new job pathways.