Apprentice subsidy program extended

The Federal Government is extending its apprentice wage subsidy program with a $365.3 million investment that is expected to help an extra 35,000 apprentices and trainees get into a job. Enrolments for the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement wage subsidy, which provides employers with 12 months of wage subsidy support, are being extended to the end of the 2021-22 financial year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the extension would build on the record number of Australians currently in trades training. “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,” he said. “These programs deliver certainty for business so they can go and hire another apprentice chef, another apprentice hairdresser, another apprentice plumber. It is about getting Australians skilled and into jobs right now. “I’ve met trade apprentices across the country supported by these programs and we want to help even more Australians take advantage of the skills and jobs that come with learning a trade. “Trades training shores up our skills pipeline, gets people into work, drives down unemployment and gives businesses the confidence to keep on hiring." But the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the extension of the Boosting Apprenticeships Commencements wage subsidy to June 30 was insufficient in providing businesses with the confidence that apprenticeship support would remain over the long-term. “Business needs a two-year commitment to extend the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program if we are going to see lasting benefits that boost skills and address chronic workforce shortages,” ACCI chief executive Andrew McKellar said. “As it stands, a three-month extension of the BAC scheme doesn’t build into the federal budget an ongoing commitment for businesses to continue hiring apprentices and trainees amid current economic pressures. “The Government’s BAC subsidy has been outstandingly successful in rebuilding our country’s skills base in the COVID recovery period – since the inception of the scheme, we have seen real growth in these job and training opportunities, ending a decade of decline. “If we are to lock in these gains, a three-month extension is simply not enough. Mr Morrison said Australia had more than 350,000 apprentices and trainees in-training , including 220,000 trade apprentices. Any employer who takes on an apprentice or trainee up until 30 June 2022 can gain access to: - 50 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the first year, capped at a maximum payment value of $7,000 per quarter per Australian Apprentice, - 10 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the second year, capped at a maximum payment value of $1,500 per quarter per Australian Apprentice, and - 5 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the third year, capped at a maximum payment value of $750 per quarter per Australian Apprentice.

Apprentice subsidy program extended

Industry Queensland

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