Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles is aiming to shepherd more school-leavers into vocational education and training, saying Australia should be aiming for a roughly 50/50 split with students going to university, and hinting at fresh incentives for state governments.

That would mean pushing tens of thousands of prospective university students towards TAFE and other vocational courses in coming years, in a bid to fill the major skills gaps that threaten the government’s push to boost home building, achieve net zero and revive manufacturing.