Mick Harrold, ASGA President, was proud to represent the sign manufacturing and wide-format print sectors on 11  June at the Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance National Workforce Forum in Melbourne, on behalf of the Australian Sign & Graphics Association.

“It was a valuable opportunity to connect with industry leaders and hear from the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, alongside renowned economist Saul Eslake, on the macroeconomic forces and shifting trends shaping our future,” Mick said following the meeting.

A few key takeaways from the discussions that Mick says hit close to home for our sector include:

• The Industry Boundary: Manufacturing in Australia represents 870,000 people. For many of us in the ASGA, we sit firmly in both camps—bridging the space between precision manufacturing and on-site construction.
• The Skills and Diversity Challenge: 9 in 10 new jobs in Australia now require formal qualifications. Crucially, trades in Australia remain among the most gender-segregated in the world which is a massive missed opportunity.
• Our Geographic Paradox: Saul Eslake highlighted how high international shipping costs create a natural competitive advantage for local manufacturers producing large, bulky visual and structural assets.
• The Productivity Mandate: Multiple speakers said that we must lift productivity and invest in areas where productivity is high or can be improved. Many speakers reinforced that productivity is driven by management and leadership, not the shop floor.

So, what does this mean for signage companies moving forward?

  “Thirty years ago, a large part of our industry was tradespeople with brushes in their hands,” Mick points out.

“Today, we are a high-tech industry employing the most cutting-edge tools. To stay competitive and profitable, our mindset has to match our equipment.”

Sign businesses, he says, need to:

• Invest in the Future: Commit to adopting new technologies and upgrading business systems to drive efficiency and profitability.
• Champion Skills: Continue to learn and train our staff, and ensure we actively value and reward the team members who undergo that training.
• Step Up as Leaders: Actively manage your businesses and your staff, even when it is hard. If you don’t currently have the skills to do that, you need to go out and learn them.

“Every industry is undergoing rapid transformation,” Mick says. “Good businesses rely on good, well-trained leaders to navigate that change.

“It was great to see the sign and graphics industry well-represented at these vital national discussions. At ASGA, we are working hard to deliver new training options to Australia including partnering with the International Sign Association to deliver 60+ online training courses, helping to bring Make it Happen Signage Academy ANZ signage training to Australia, and conducting ongoing discussions with both the Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance and BuildSkills Australia about national training options.

“Watch this space for more announcements as the year goes on,” Mick concludes.