Call for employers to hire young tradies amid satisfaction survey
Victorian tradies among the least satisfied in the nation, with a large amount struggling to find work after training. This is why it is so difficult for apprentices.
Education
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Victorian tradies are among the least satisfied in the nation with their job after training as the peak body urges employers to invest in young workers, not subcontract out jobs.
The state ranks in seventh place for apprentices or trainees getting a job, and of those who do, one in six are not happy with it.
Just over 14 per cent of tradies couldn’t get a job after training, the latest National Centre for Vocational Education Research survey found.
Labourers and other technician and trades workers were among the least likely to get a job, at one in five unemployed.
And just four in five sales, admin and clerical workers and automotive and engineering tradies were happy with the work when they got a gig.
Apprenticeship Employment Network executive director Gary Workman said completion rates in apprenticeships and traineeships were “fairly stagnant at around 50 per cent”.
He said part of the problem was limited options for young people to try out multiple trades before they committed to an apprenticeship.
“I think we could do a lot more — it’s important young people know what they’re going into,” Mr Workman said.
He called on employers to take on apprentices against the tide of casual and subcontractor hires.
“Employers aren’t willing to invest in the workforce they need for the future, they’re looking at the short term,” he said.
“We understand they’re busy but that’s the time to do it — when they’re not busy, they don’t have the funds to do it.
“We’d like to see employers invest in young workers they’ll need in the next four to five years.”
Opposition training and skills spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said Victorian apprentices were “some of the least likely to find employment after training or even be employed in the occupation in which they trained.”
“Apprentices and trainees are the future of our workforce,” she said.
“Yet in Victoria students are among the least likely to be satisfied with their apprenticeship or to be employed after their training. Daniel Andrews is presiding over a system that is failing to deliver for workers of the future.”
A Department of Education spokesman said “we know there’s always more we can do to ensure we’re producing workers with industry-standard skills who are ready for the workforce of the future”.
“We are working closely with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions through the COAG process to develop a VET Reform Roadmap that delivers apprenticeship and employment-based training that is attractive to employers and individuals,” he said.
“In Victoria, we have also implemented reforms to strengthen and build industry confidence in apprenticeships, including reintroducing Trade Papers, developing new independent assessments and updating learning materials.
The Macklin Review into the state’s post-secondary education and training systems is currently underway.
LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING A JOB AFTER TRAINING IN VICTORIA
Construction trades — 93.6
Managers and professionals — 93.2%*
Electrotechnology and telecommunications — 91.1%
Automotive and engineering trades — 91%
Foods trades workers — 89.4%
Sales workers — 85.6%
Clerical and admin workers — 84%
Community and personal services workers — 81.3%
Labourers — 80.9%
Other technicians and trades workers — 80.1%
Machinery operators and drivers — 72.2%*
Figures from NCVER Apprentice and Trainee Experience and Destination survey 2019
*Potential margin of error