The education and training sector contributes significantly to the Australian economy in several ways:
• through direct employment - it employed nearly 1.1 million people in November 202075
• by improving people's employability
• by increasing workforce productivity.76
For example, in 2018 the Regional Universities Network of seven regionally based universities contributed $2.4 billion in Gross Regional Product to their local economies. The Network is growing Australia's skilled workforce, increasing people's wages and building research and knowledge capital.77
To increase the economic contribution this sector makes to Australia's GDP, all levels of government need to invest in high-quality, well-located, future- focused educational facilities.78 This is required to meet demand and compete internationally.