The Victorian Government is making sure long-term opportunities are created for Victorian workers and businesses.
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Victoria’s offshore wind energy workforce
Thousands of workers will help deliver Victoria’s pipeline of 9 GW of offshore wind generation by 2040 and offshore wind energy will bring huge opportunities for Victoria’s workforce. Significant long-term opportunities will be created, particularly in the regions closest to offshore wind sites.
The Victorian Government is actively considering how regional workers transitioning away from fossil fuel industries can be supported, and how opportunities can be created for traditionally under-represented groups, including First Peoples and women.
Read the Energy Australia document on transition opportunities.
Each phase of offshore wind development will provide a range of employment opportunities for Victoria’s office, engineering and trades workforces.
The operations and maintenance phase has the most significant opportunities for ongoing employment for Victorians in the local communities hosting offshore wind farms.
Learn more about employment opportunities at each phase of offshore wind development.
Duration: Up to 5 years per project
Project management and procurement
General managers (HE)
Finance managers (HE)
Construction managers (HE/VET)
Supply and distribution managers (HE/VET)
Office managers (VET)
Management and organisational analysts (HE)
Engineering and design
Industrial, mechanical and production engineers (HE)
Civil engineering professionals (HE)
Electrical engineers (HE)
Electronics engineers (HE)
Electricians (VET)
HE – higher education, VET – vocational education training, OTHER – pathways outside of VET and HE
Duration: 3-4 years per project
Construction and installation
Trades workers and technicians (VET)
Industrial, mechanical and production engineers (HE)
Building and engineering technicians (VET)
Electronic engineering draftspersons and technicians (HE/VET)
Mechanical engineering draftspersons and technicians (HE/VET)
Power generation plant operators (OTHER/VET)
Marine transport professionals (VET)
General managers (HE)
Construction managers (HE/VET)
Electricians (VET)
Manufacturing and assembly
Welders and steelworkers (VET)
Product assemblers (OTHER)
Structural steel and welding trades workers (VET)
Production managers (OTHER/VET)
Machine operators (OTHER)
Crane, hoist and lift operators (OTHER)
HE – higher education, VET – vocational education training, OTHER – pathways outside of VET and HE
Duration: Windfarm’s lifetime, 30+ years per project
Operations and maintenance
Trades workers and technicians (VET)
Industrial, mechanical and production engineers (HE)
General managers (HE)
Marine transport professionals (VET)
Product assemblers (OTHER)
Supply and distribution managers (HE/VET)
Power generation plant operators (OTHER/VET)
Construction managers (HE/VET)
Electricians (VET)
HE – higher education, VET – vocational education training, OTHER – pathways outside of VET and HE
Building local workforce and industry capability
The Victorian Government is committed to building local capability and setting up the industry for long-term success.
Offshore wind is a new industry in Australia, and a competitive one globally. The Victorian Government has developed a range of initiatives to ensure the early success of the sector in Victoria, while creating long-term opportunities for Victorian workers, industry and businesses.
The Victorian Government’s approach to supporting local jobs and industry participation in the development of offshore wind aligns with whole-of-government commitments. It is informed by consultation with industry and insights from international experiences that have been successful in building the capability of local industry, sustainably and competitively.
The Victorian Energy Jobs Plan (VEJP) will ensure the required workforce is available to deliver the State’s renewable energy targets to 2040 and that Victoria’s energy transition is supported by strong investment confidence.
To maximise opportunities for local jobs and industry development, the Victorian Government has established the Renewable Jobs Taskforce to further coordinate industry engagement and participation across offshore wind projects. The Taskforce includes representatives from unions, industry associations, businesses and the community.
Offshore wind developers will need to comply with the Local Jobs First Policy. This supports Victorian businesses and workers by ensuring they are given full and fair opportunities to compete for government contracts and setting requirements for the use of local goods and services, known as local content.
Local requirements for the first offshore wind auction
Offshore wind developers must meet the following local content requirements to participate in the first offshore wind auction. These requirements support a solid foundation for increased local participation in future projects, reflecting that offshore wind is a new industry in Australia and the significant global competition for the technology.
Demonstrate plans to maximise local content in the development and construction phase of the project.
Demonstrate plans to achieve minimum 80% local content during the 30-year operations and maintenance phase, as averaged over the period, acknowledging the considerable opportunity for offshore wind to provide meaningful ongoing jobs in Victoria’s regions.
Operations and maintenance expenditure does not include major component procurement, for example nacelles, which is classified as capital expenditure.
Demonstrate plans to maximise the use of steel supplied using locally milled and locally processed-fabricated steel.
Demonstrate plans to maximise the use of materials, products and services produced or manufactured by suppliers based in regional Victoria.
All offshore wind developers must ensure at least 10% of labor hours come from apprentices, trainees, and cadets during onshore construction and operations.
Local participation will be supported by a developer’s Supply Chain Action Plan and Engagement Strategy, through which developers will need to propose a plan for investing in and developing the local industry and workforce.
Additionally, all developers will be required to provide a Local Industry Development Plan (LIDP) which clearly identifies local content, job commitments, including opportunities for apprentices, trainees, cadets within the project.
Work with the ICN to publish forward work packages to provide Australian and Victorian businesses with the opportunity to tender and participate in relevant project phases.
