New investment comes amid declining trade apprenticeship commencements in Australia
The Western Australian government is investing $19.6 million to further incentivise employers in taking on apprentices and trainees in the building and construction sector.
In a statement, the state government said the million-dollar investment will support an additional 330 places in the Group Training Organisation Wage Subsidy Programme.
The programme offers additional financial support by helping employers cover wages for apprentices and trainees working on government projects and non-government residential projects.
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said the programme will help more small- and medium-sized businesses hire the apprentices and trainees they need to build more hospitals and houses.
"Importantly, this incentive will help even more people earn while they learn - so we can build a pipeline of building and construction workers for many years to come," Cook said in a statement.
"This extension will help us deliver for Western Australians and keep WA strong."
Training investment in WA
The millions of dollars invested in the wage subsidy programme are part of the government's major $216-million investment for TAFE and training opportunities.
The investment, allocated in the 2026-27 State Budget, will include more than $145 million to support and promote fee-free and low-fee TAFE courses.
"Through this Budget we are continuing to invest in fee free and lower fee training opportunities in priority industries, enabling Western Australians to get the job-ready skills they need to take up quality jobs and benefit from our State's diversifying economy," said Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson in a statement.
The investment also includes a $3.8-million budget to extend the government's campaign promoting careers in key sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, defence, early childhood education and care, aged care, and health.
It also commits another $24.1 million to upgrade South Metropolitan's TAFE Munster campus in a bid to support an estimated 840 annual enrolments in training in wind and alternative energy, battery technology, electrification, automation, and robotics.
Declining apprenticeship commencements
Western Australia's investment comes as the Australian Industry Group sounded the alarm on declining trade apprenticeship commencements.
Citing data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), the Ai Group pointed out that trade apprenticeship commencements are down almost 10%, while non-trade commencements (traineeships) are down just over 18%.
"This is the latest decline in a clear downward trend in commencements that has been underway for several years," the Ai Group said in a statement last month.
"While there are some potential green shoots in the most recent quarter related to commencements in construction-related qualifications, it is too soon to know if this is reflective of a longer-term trend."
The Ai Group also pointed out that the Australian government reduced incentives for employers taking on apprentices and trainees in priority sectors outside of the housing and new energy sectors.
"The reductions impact a range of critical areas of skills need, including manufacturing and the care sector," the organisation said.
"If Australia is serious about increasing housing supply, delivering major infrastructure, managing the energy transition, delivering high-quality services, local manufacturing and strengthening sovereign capability we cannot do it without a steady pipeline of skills."
