News & Views

10th September 2015

Construction may be king but apprentices hold the key

Right now, Australia needs good economic news and the rebound in Australia’s building and construction sector, reported this week – primarily as a result of residential construction – is the good news that has the potential to see us steadily grow for a number of years.

“Whilst it’s encouraging to see that we still have years of steady growth ahead of us, there are still a number of fundamentals that we need to get right if we want to make the most of what’s before us,” said the CEO of the National Electrical and Communications Association, Suresh Manickam.

One of those fundamentals is investment in our nation’s apprentices.

The National Centre of Vocational Education Research has generated far too many reports highlighting the lag and decline in apprenticeship take up and the most recent figures from the March 2015 quarter are no exception.

“As at March 31 2015, there were 319 700 apprentices and trainees in-training, a decrease of 16.4% from the year before and 147 000 or 32% lower than the peak in training numbers back in March 2012,” Mr Manickam said.

Mr Manickam also expressed his concern with the sharp fall in the number of mature age apprentice commencements over the past three years.

“Apprenticeship commencements for 25 – 44 year olds have fallen from 30 600 to 13 600 over the last three years – a 55% drop, whilst for over 44 year olds, there was 71% decrease over the same period.”

“These figures highlight the need for greater wage subsidisation in order to encourage mature age workers to take up a trade to help fill gaps in the jobs market. With the four year investment that’s required for a small business to hire, train and employ a mature age apprentice, increased support is critical”

“Given the projected increase demand for electrical workers in relation to the upswing in residential construction, actions are now required to head off a future skills shortage.”                              

“Whilst the construction boom is currently the king, it’s investment in our apprentices that holds the key to the future success of the electrical contracting sector,” said Mr Manickam.

 

-ENDS-

 

Media enquiries and interviews

Barry Jackson – National Marketing and Communications

E barry.jackson@neca.asn.au

D 02 9962 6904

M 0457 767 328

 

Notes for editors

  1. NECA is the peak industry body representing the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide.
  2. NECA is run by electrical contractors, for electrical contractors.
  3. We have 5,000 contracting companies as members – and they in turn employ over 50,000 people Australia-wide.
  4. NECA employs almost 350 people across its seven chapters (Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia).
  5. The chapters provide NECA members with a range of services including: Industrial Relations, Health & Safety, Legal, Technical, Training, business-support services, product discounts and advocacy representation in Canberra with Government, Industry bodies and Training bodies.
  6. NECA wholly-owns its Legal firm, Group Training and the NECA Colleges (in WA) and EcoSmart Electricians – and has joint ventures with a superannuation company (NSW) and one of the national cabling registrars (ACRS).
  7. NECA also employ around 2,000 apprentice electricians and provides training to a further 2,000.
  8. For further information go to www.neca.asn.au.

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