The Federal Government is investing an additional $1.2 billion to support Australian businesses to employ 100,000 new apprentices or trainees.
Businesses who take on a new Australian apprentice will be eligible for a 50 per cent wage subsidy, up until September 30 next year.
Civil Contractors Federation of Queensland chief executive Damian Long welcomed the announcement, saying the subsidy and additional support for apprentices and trainees was “encouraging to see”.
“Apprentice and trainee numbers have been declining for years,” Long says.
“To underpin a post COVID recovery and to support Australia into the future a skilled workforce will be required.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says apprenticeships are an important pathway to get young people into jobs and to ensure there is a skills pipeline to meet the future needs of employers.
“During this pandemic the Federal Government has been focused on supporting and creating jobs as well as identifying the skills we need in the economic rebuild,” he says.
“Already 760,000 jobs that were either lost or reduced to zero hours as the COVID crisis hit, have come back into our economy. We want to continue to recover what has been lost and get young people into work.
“Whether it’s the manufacturing, housing and construction, arts or mining sectors – this new wage subsidy gives businesses certainty to hire and provides a career path to aspiring, young tradies.”
The subsidy will be available to employers of any size or industry, Australia-wide who engage an Australian apprentice or trainee from October 5, until the 100,000 cap is reached.
Under the new measure, employers will be eligible for 50 per cent of the wages for a new or recommencing apprentice or trainee, up to $7,000 per quarter.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash says the measure builds on the existing $2.8 billion Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy that is helping employers to retain their apprentices and trainees.
“The Australian Government has already invested significantly to ensure that apprentices are retained where possible and supported to re-engage if they lose their job,” she says.
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships Steve Irons says the new measures we are announcing today will build on the already significant investment to support apprentices and trainees.
“Through the existing Supporting Apprentices and Trainees measure, as many as 90,000 businesses employing around 180,000 apprentices throughout Australia will continue to be supported.
For further information on how to apply for the subsidy, including information on eligibility, contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.