Worries arise over a severe labour shortage coinciding with a housing crisis. New apprentice commencements have dropped by 25 percent, and those in training have decreased by 3 percent.

CEO of Master Builders Association of WA Matthew Pollock told Julie-anne Sprague on 6PR Afternoons, “It is concerning, it puts more pressure on the industry’s abilities to deliver on some of the government’s construction targets, particularly those around new housing.”

“It’s come off the back of the withdrawal of the federal government’s Apprentice Wage Subsidy, that was a key part of their COVID stimulus package. We did see quite a sharp increase in new apprentice commencements as a result. Unfortunately, given the withdrawal of that funding we have seen across the country a decline in new apprentice commencements. That’s something that will feed into completions as well and will put further pressure on the construction workforce.”

“I think there’s several things that we need to do. One thing is encourage people into the construction industry. I think we need to provide more support for employers to employee apprentices. We’d like to see the feds come to the party as well,” Mr Pollock said.

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