HON DAVID PISONI MP
South Australia’s Skills Led Recovery in Full Swing
The last 18 months have been challenging for many businesses, families, and communities across the country, and especially for our colleagues and friends in the eastern states.
Since 2018, our $200 million Skilling South Australia initiative has been delivering the skills that industry needs and getting more South Australians on a pathway to a career.
Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, the Marshall Government’s record infrastructure investment of $17.9 billion and sensible stimulus has protected South Australian jobs and businesses throughout the pandemic.
Recent data has shown that over 48,000 new apprentice and trainee commencements have been achieved since 2018, with more than 3,000 local SA businesses employing an apprentice or trainee for the first time.
We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with South Australian businesses as we deliver targeted economic support – through the Business Support Package – as part of our strong COVID economic recovery plan.
I encourage local employers and training providers to take advantage of the many subsidies available.
Our recovery plan is supporting business, protecting jobs, and shielding South Australians from the health threat posed by the pandemic, and we are determined to ensure everyone has access to the vaccine to keep our state safe and economy strong. Across South Australia, we have continued to see record high levels of business confidence, and we know that our qualified tradespeople have been flat out keeping up with the amount of work on offer. This is especially true for plumbers. The demand for skilled workers in trade areas is strong, with employers and job seekers increasingly seeing the value of apprenticeships.
Through the Australian Government’s Boosting Apprentice Commencements wage subsidy, businesses or Group Training Organisations which engage an Australian apprentice until 31 March 2022 may be eligible for a subsidy of 50 per cent of wages paid to a new or recommencing apprentice or trainee for a 12-month period from the date of commencement, to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter. After the first 12 months, employers can transition to the time-limited Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy for the second and third years of an apprenticeship, delivering a 10 per cent subsidy in the second year, up to a maximum of $1,500 per quarter, and a five per cent subsidy in the third year, to a maximum $750 per quarter. For more information on what’s on offer in the skills and training system visit www.skills.sa.gov.au
In fact, over the last year here in South Australia apprenticeship commencements in construction trades increased by 55 per cent. There were more than 80 internet job ads for plumbers in South Australia in August 2021 – the highest number for plumbers in our state in the past 15 years, as reported by the Australian Government.
Hon David Pisoni MP That high level of demand resulted in 2,100 more plumbers being employed in South Australia in August this year when compared with May, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force Survey.
Minister for Innovation and Skills
Supporting and skilling more South Australians for the opportunities in our emerging industries remains a key focus of the Marshall Government.
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