VET News

Australia: In The Midst of an Apprentice-Led Recovery

Australia’s official skills and training data institute, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), has found the proportion of Australian businesses with apprentices and trainees is at its highest level since 2011 as a result of the Morrison Government’s skills policies.

NCVER’s interpretive report on the Employers’ use and views of the VET system survey (SEUV) 2021 has found more than a quarter of Australian employers (27.4 per cent) currently have an apprentice or trainee. It also found 37.6 per cent of businesses had increased the number of apprentices or trainees during the pandemic compared with previous years.

NCVER attributed the surge in businesses taking up apprentices and trainees to the significant supports put in place by the Morrison Government, noting JobKeeper, the Infection Control Training Fund, Supporting Apprentices and Trainees Wage support, the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage support, and JobTrainer.

Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business Stuart Robert said the survey was the latest demonstration that the Morrison Government’s targeted skills policies backed with record investment had secured a generation of Australian workers from COVID-19.

‘As millions of Aussie businesses were hit hard by the crippling restrictions brought on by the pandemic, the Morrison Government stepped into the breach with our highly successful skills and training support packages funded with record investment,’ Minister Robert said. ‘JobKeeper, our Infection Control Training Fund, our apprentice's wage supports, and JobTrainer have helped Australian businesses put on, and keep on, the next generation of Australian workers—even in the face of the pandemic,’ he said. ‘There has never been a better time than now for businesses – no matter their size or industry – to give an apprentice or trainee a crack. In 2022 Australia is in the midst of an apprentice-led recovery.’

For more information on the Australian Government wage subsidies on offer, visit: www.dese.gov.au/skills-and-training/hire-apprentice-or-trainee

Date posted Feb 10, 2022