Category: Construction Apprenticeship

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November 10, 2025

Small and family-owned construction companies across Queensland will soon benefit from a major new government initiative designed to tackle the industry’s ongoing skills shortage.

The State Government has unveiled a $19 million Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program, fulfilling a key election commitment to strengthen Queensland’s workforce and help smaller construction firms train and retain apprentices.

The announcement was made jointly by Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates and Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin.

Under the pilot, wage subsidies will be offered to 2,000 construction apprentices employed by small and family-owned businesses. The program is intended to reduce financial strain during off-site training periods and maintain a reliable pipeline of skilled workers for Queensland’s construction sector.

“This program is part of the fresh start we promised – to end the skills shortage and secure a better future for Queensland’s construction industry,” Ms Bates said.

Eligible businesses will receive:
• A 50% wage subsidy for first- and second-year apprentices
• A 25% wage subsidy for third- and fourth-year apprentices for up to eight weeks of annual training

Over four years, apprentices under 21 may access up to $10,060, while apprentices 21 and over could receive as much as $13,740 in total subsidy payments.

The program applies to apprentices starting from 1 July 2025. Businesses can apply after an apprentice completes probation, with subsidy payments available upon enrolment and attendance at training.

Mr Minnikin said the initiative reinforces the Government’s commitment to the small businesses that drive Queensland’s economy.

“Small and family businesses are the heart of our construction industry. This initiative helps them take on apprentices with confidence, knowing the government is helping shoulder the cost of training,” he said.

Local chambers are encouraging interested operators to get in touch.

If your business would like more information, contact your local Chamber of Commerce who can connect you with the relevant department for support and clarification.

This is excellent news for the Redlands and Bayside region and a positive outcome for everyone who has advocated for change. The Regional Jobs Committee and local stakeholders have long supported this direction, and it’s great to see the pilot moving forward.

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Australia’s construction industry is facing a major labour shortage as it struggles to meet growing housing and infrastructure demands. Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia, says over 500,000 new workers are needed within five years to replace retirees and grow the workforce. With tighter migration policies, the pressure is on domestic labour.

Wawn calls for urgent reform of the apprenticeship system, highlighting a nearly 50% dropout rate and a cultural bias favouring university over trades. Without intervention, the shortage could cost the economy $57 billion in lost GDP.

Recent government initiatives offer hope. Labor’s Key Apprenticeship Program will provide $10,000 to construction apprentices, while the Coalition proposes a 10% wage subsidy for small businesses and a matching $10,000 apprentice grant. While Wawn supports both plans, she says small businesses need further support to handle training costs.

Wawn stresses the need for cultural change and practical reforms such as better school-based career education, female participation in trades, and stronger mentoring programs. She urges collaboration between government, industry, schools, and communities to invest in the next generation of tradies and ensure Australia can meet its housing goals.

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May 12, 2021

Construction apprentices will be shortchanged by a Federal Budget that does nothing to improve declining apprenticeship completion rates and the low take up of apprentices on government jobs, warns the CFMEU National Construction Division.

“This Budget is long on rhetoric but short on genuine investment in future generations of Australian workers,” said Dave Noonan, CFMEU National Construction Secretary.

“The government has failed to address declining apprenticeship completion rates and the low take-up of apprentices on government infrastructure and building projects.”

“While trumpeting an infrastructure investment package that appears to be largely made of previously announced projects, there is no evidence that the government has attached requirements to have a minimum number of apprentices included on government infrastructure projects.”

“The Federal Government’s stated support for apprentices is also completely undermined by its continued ban on apprenticeship ratios on infrastructure and federal construction jobs.”

“If Morrison and Frydenberg were serious about supporting apprentices they would make appropriate apprenticeship ratios a condition of major infrastructure projects and all federal government building projects.”

“The apprentice wage subsidy extended last night is limited to first year apprentices so will do little to support the completion of apprenticeships which have been declining for years.”

“The latest data on construction apprenticeship completion rates reveals that less than half the people who commence an apprenticeship will complete it. Of the 22,220 people who commenced a construction apprenticeship in 2016 only around 10,650 had completed it by 2020. The data also reveals construction apprenticeship commencements were 23.5 per cent lower in 2020 compared to 2016.”

“The Budget also locks in a long-term drop in spending in vocational education and training, while celebrating a short-term increase in spending in the next financial year. The budget papers reveal a 66.2 per cent decrease in investment in real terms on vocational education and training from 2021‑22 to 2024‑25.”

“There is nothing in the Budget to fund the Victorian Government proposal for a purpose-built quarantine centre near Melbourne Airport. Hotel quarantine and low vaccination continue to be the biggest threat to health and economic recovery requiring national leadership and response.”

“The Morrison Government has again failed to invest in social housing, showing its ideological disdain for measures that would address the housing crisis, create jobs and boost the economy.”