The State Government today announced its highly successful wage subsidy scheme will be expanded, as part of continued efforts to boost housing supply and affordability in Western Australia and build a pipeline of skilled workers for the residential construction industry.
An additional 150 places have been added to the Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy Program, which is already assisting small-to-medium businesses to get more building and construction apprentices and trainees on the job.
The expansion lifts total investment in the program to $66.3 million and builds on the original 300 new jobs already created for apprentices and trainees with Group Training Schemes in WA's building and construction sector.
In response to industry demand, eligibility for the program was broadened in July to include apprentices and trainees in the residential and commercial construction industry. More than 150 places were then allocated in three months, which exhausted the total program allocation of 300 places.
To build on this momentum, 150 new places will be added from 1 January 2024 to further grow the supply of skilled building and construction workers for industry and get more homes built for Western Australians.
The program has also delivered a boost to regional businesses with 39 per cent of spots allocated to placement of regional apprentices and trainees.
To further boost the pipeline of skilled workers in the building and construction industry, the Cook Government has also committed $5 million for a new pilot program to support private training providers to expand their capacity.
The Capital Grants Program will be funded through the Construction Training Fund and assist successful applicants to upgrade their facilities so they can get more people into training – and bolster the skilled construction workforce to get more homes built.
The program will maximise quality training for in-demand skills, such as electrical and plumbing, and also help boost the workforce needed for WA's clean energy transition.
More information about the GTO Wage Subsidy Program can be found on the Jobs and Skills WA website at www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/gws.
Premier Roger Cook said, "My Government recognises the vital role of vocational education and training in growing and building the capability of WA's critical building and construction workforce. We are doing everything we can to accelerate the delivery of housing across Western Australia and get more young people into training. The Government continues to work with industry to boost housing supply and affordability, and at our recent housing roundtable we discussed current constraints in the housing and construction market. Industry needs more boots on the ground, and these latest initiatives will further build the construction sector's capacity to get more homes built for Western Australians."
Training Minister Simone McGurk added, "Growing our construction workforce and getting more homes built is a priority for this Government. The Group Training Organisation Wage Subsidy program has been embraced by the housing sector – and this expansion will allow more employers to get on board and help attract more construction apprentices to the industry. We also want to ensure we have training places available for those who want them, and that is why these grants for private training providers are so important. They'll help build their capacity – so they can train the workforce of the future. As a Government we're doing everything we can to not only encourage more workers to get into training, but to ensure that they finish their training - and take up rewarding positions in building and construction."
