Apprenticeship boost delivers for small businesses

• The Crisafulli Government is backing the construction industry with support for eligible small businesses. 
• Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program to support 2,000 apprentices across the State. 
• More than 500 small and family businesses have already utilised support to train and retain skilled workers, helping address Labor's construction skill shortage. 
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under Labor. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to help small and family-owned construction businesses train and retain apprentices. 

Since the launch of the $19 million Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program last October, 526 small businesses have benefited from the subsidised wages of 579 in-training apprentices.  

The program is part of the Crisafulli Government’s plan for Queensland’s future, putting an end to Labor's skills shortage which allowed the workforce gap to widen while demand for housing and infrastructure soared. 

Securing a pipeline of skilled workers, the pilot program is delivering for regional apprentices with one third of successful registrations coming from small construction businesses outside the south-east corner of the state. 

Of the 35 trades included in the pilot program, carpentry accounts for 26.3 per cent of current registrations, followed by electrical (25.3 per cent) and plumbing (15.7per cent).  

Eligible small businesses can receive a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the typical wage for first and second year construction apprentices and 25 per cent for third and fourth year apprentices while attending the equivalent of up to eight weeks of training a year. The program includes: 

• Apprentices under 21 who may be eligible for a total subsidy payment of $10,060 over four years.
• Apprentices 21 and over who may be eligible for a total subsidy payment of $13,740 over four years.  

The Crisafulli Government is further backing the state’s construction sector and apprentices through:  

• More than $98 million in construction specific training initiatives over the 2024-25 period, supporting over 29,000 students.
• $10 million to continue the delivery of the Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s program over two years.
• $4 million for free Construction Apprenticeships for eligible Over 25s over three years.
• A new $78 million TAFE Centre of Excellence training hub for construction and allied trades at Caloundra.
• Support of the $60 million Construction Skills Queensland Annual Training Plan (2025-26) to fund skills development, workforce support, and industry research.    

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the pilot program was a major step in strengthening Queensland’s construction workforce.  

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering Queenslanders the skills they need for the jobs they want,” Minister Bates said.  

“Labor’s decade of decline created a dire skills shortage but we are committed to getting Queenslanders back on the tools. 

“This pilot program is helping to build a pipeline of skilled construction workers to deliver on these priorities.”  

Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the pilot program was vital in supporting small and family construction businesses as they train apprentices for the future.  

“Our $19 million pilot program is giving small and family-owned construction businesses the support they need to train and retain apprentices,” Minister Minnikin said.   

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and this is another example of the Crisafulli government putting Small and Family Business first to ensure they have the support they need to take on apprentices and contribute to critical infrastructure projects across the state. 

“I encourage small construction businesses to apply to secure funding.” 

For more information visit business.qld.gov.au/apprentice-pilot 

ENDS  

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Berkman, 0429 128 637