The Coalition is being urged to extend its “incredibly successful” apprenticeship wage subsidy before it expires next week, amid warnings the skills shortage is about to get even worse.

Under the $2.7 billion Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program, which met its target of 100,000 starters less than five months after it was launched, employers receive a 50 per cent wage subsidy of up to $7000 a quarter for first-year apprentices.