Jobs and Skills Committee

•  Jobs Committee met to discuss wage subsidies, training packages, course offerings and the National Careers Institute

The Jobs and Skills Committee kicked off the latest round of national committee meetings this week with a videoconference on Wednesday morning.

Unsurprisingly the Corona virus featured heavily in discussions, including the $1.3 billion apprentice wage subsidy announcement. While announced that small business employers (and hosts) with an apprentice on 1 March 2020 will be eligible for a 50% subsidy on the apprentice’s wage for 1 January to 30 September, much of the implementation details are still being worked out. The national office is involved in these discussions.

Other discussions at the committee meeting included arrangements for the Construction Industry Reference Council and Technical Advisory Groups, updating the scope of education lists for each state and territory; and an update on the establishment of the National Careers Institute and upcoming grant program. 

Unsurprisingly the Corona virus featured heavily in discussions, including the $1.3 billion apprentice wage subsidy announcement.

Concerningly, cancellations and withdrawals from construction qualifications continue to exceed completions. In the 12 months to 30 September 2019, 18,180 cancelled or withdrew from construction qualifications.

There were apprentices and trainees in-training in 208 occupational categories in the September 2019 quarter. Over 20% of these were in just three occupations – electrician (11.2%), Carpenters and Joiners (10.3%) and Plumbers (6.7%).

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