The option of trades and apprenticeships as a career choice needs to be promoted from early childhood if we are to turn around the current deficit of people taking on apprenticeships says the Laser Group managing director Steve Keil.

As Australia’s largest network of plumbers and electricians, the Group has over 1,500 trade qualified employees with over one third currently completing their apprenticeships including a large percentage of mature aged apprentices.

“We really need a multi-pronged and timed approached when looking for a solution” Steve says.

“The Government is investing money to encourage businesses to take on apprentices now however, many of these grants are only available to businesses who use Group Training organisations meaning, the small businesses who hire apprentices directly miss out.

“For our Members, of over 230 businesses, only one quarter use these services and for those not hiring apprentices, the reason is primarily financial.”

Current reports state that 85.5% of apprentices gain full time jobs six months after completing training, that rate compares with 68% of university graduates finding work in the same time frame.

“By the time our kids are reaching the end of their secondary schooling, the focus becomes one of getting good grades to enter university.  We need to change the perception that finding a trade apprenticeship is not a viable outcome and that having a degree will ensure a long-term career,” Steve says.

“Careers teachers and parents often miss the possibilities that come with being a qualified tradie including, owning your own business, or growing your qualifications into specialisations leading to a world of opportunity.  By starting these conversations in primary school, we are also able to reach young girls before they become influenced by social perceptions that particular trades are for men only.”

Census data shows that between 1996 to 2006, apprentices over the age of 25 increased from 8.4% to 26.1% while females accounted for 2% of construction, automotive and electrical tradespeople.  In a period of trade labour shortages and successful government initiatives to grow the numbers of apprentices, why are we still seeing an overall trade shortage?

As well as supporting individual businesses hiring mature apprentices, the Government also needs to address the gap for those aged between 21 and 24 where the employee is too old to be paid junior wages but not old enough for the employer to receive subsidies.  At the same time, they are still being trained and are unable to do the job of a qualified tradie leading to employers to avoid employing this age group.  Yet, internal research showed this age group to be most likely to apply for an apprenticeship and be committed to the job.

Steve says reform of the apprenticeship programs is needed nationally.

“There is no one single fix and stakeholders need to be engaged along with those in the careers and education industries. Let’s start the conversation about trades early so that children appreciate the value and importance of a trade as a career and change the perception of it being something that kids do when they can’t finish school,” he says.

“Most importantly, let’s find ways to support the many small businesses that hire the apprentices and teach them the trades, ensuring the industry continues to grow into the future.”