Thousands of dollars in wage subsidies, tax relief for employers of apprentices

Employers who take on new apprentices or trainees can receive a $32,000 wage subsidy under a state budget measure to increase jobs.

Up to $32,000 in wage subsidies and payroll tax relief will be on offer to employers taking on an apprentice or a trainee, the state government has announced.

The government’s 2021/22 state budget will include $69 million for SA’s jobs training system and $4 million for apprentice and trainee payroll tax exemptions.

The budget will extend the 12-month payroll tax exemptions for wages paid for eligible trainees and apprentices who enter into a new training contract before June 30 next year.

Premier Steven Marshall said the subsidy, combined with a federal government subsidy, would deliver up to $32,000 of support for new apprentices and trainees.

He said this meant there had never been a better time to upskill existing staff or take on a new apprentice or trainee.

“The Marshall Government’s record $16.7 billion investment in infrastructure is driving a wave of job creation that is being felt right across metropolitan and regional South Australia and companies need an appropriately qualified workforce to take full advantage of the opportunities in offer,” Mr Marshall said.

Wage subsidies and payroll tax relief will be available to employers who take on eligible apprentices.

The federal government has extended its wage subsidy until 31 March, 2022.

Innovations and Skills Minister David Pisoni said: “With South Australia’s economy growing strongly and skills shortages developing in industry sectors across the economy now is the time for employers to move to secure their future labour needs”.

Advanced manufacturing company Supashock said the apprenticeship scheme was “imperative to the SA work force”.

“The state and federal governments apprenticeship scheme has enabled Supashock to employ school-based apprentices over the past three years, including female engineering apprentices,” Supashock chief executive Oscar Fiorinotto said.