Government adds more jobs to the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List

The Australian government has announced the addition of 34 positions on the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List, bringing the total to 111.

According to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, the list includes jobs classified by the ABS as “technicians and trades workers or community and personal service workers”, that are recognised as having a national shortage.

Master Builders acting chief executive officer Shaun Schmitke commented on the announcement: “The federal government has heard the cries of builders in recent months who have been grappling with labour shortages.

“Master Builders has long called for targeted efforts to incentivise the retention and completion rates of apprentices and today’s announcement is an active step in tackling low completion rates,” he explained.

Mr Schmitke said in a statement that wage subsidies are a key factor in whether an apprentice is hired or not: “Eligible employers will be able to access a 10 per cent reimbursement of the first- and second-year apprentice wages and a 5 per cent reimbursement of third-year wages.

“Apprentice payments incentivise them to stay in their training and assist with cost of living pressures. Eligible building and construction apprentices will receive $5,000 in four payments during their apprenticeships,” Mr Schmitke said.

The Australian government offers other benefits to encourage people to take up trades, under the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System, such as:

• Financial support
• Loans
• Away from home allowances
• Disability assistance
• Support for women

According to Mr Schmitke, the building industry needs about 470,000 workers to keep up with an ageing population and demand for housing.

Mr Schmitke added: “This is a meaningful step and we hope to see more efforts around improving recruitment to trades.”

The government made a $365.3 million investment to get apprentices working

On 27 March 2022, the government made a $365.3 million investment to get apprentices working.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison said in a statement: “By backing 385,000 apprentices in their training, we’re boosting the pipeline of workers Australia is going to need for a stronger economy and a stronger future.

“Learning a trade doesn’t just give you skills for a job, it gives you the skills and opportunities for your future. Out of a group of students studying trades I met just last week, more than half told me they were planning to one day open their own businesses and they know they can do that because they’re learning skills that people need,” said Mr Morrison.

Apprenticeships are also on the new Labour federal government’s agenda, as reported by Australian Apprenticeships Pathways.

And the demand for trade workers in Australia is being recognised globally. UK organisation Emigrate to Australia has encouraged people to make the move to take advantage of the in-demand job opportunities.

Jack Campbell

Jack is the editor at HR Leader.