The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has called for a focus on mentoring and wages in the federal government’s review of apprenticeships.

Australia needs an additional 32,000 electricians by 2030, and another 85,000 by 2050, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. But with electrical completions at approximately 59%, whilst trade training, in general, is only 42.2%, the ETU says the current apprenticeship system is failing.

“The rapid transition to renewable energy sources is creating a worldwide surge in demand for electricians. It simply won’t work to rely on the same lazy solution of importing temporary skilled migrants,” ETU national secretary Michael Wright says.

“We need a robust, well-resourced, industry-led training effort and it needs to start immediately. Apprentices need to be supported at every step of their time, we can’t afford for anyone to be slipping through the cracks.”

With apprentice incomes below minimum wage, a wage that has become more acute through the cost-of-living crisis, the ETU says the government is also spending close to $300 million per year on ineffective, non-industry-based mentoring, through the discredited Australian Apprenticeship Support Networks system.

If done right, Michael says the review on apprenticeships will be a big opportunity to start building a labour force over the next 20 years by bridging existing skills gaps and creating more doors for high-paying career paths for Australians.