Government to extend $4000 payment to employers who hire eligible apprentices

Employers will be given cash incentives to take on new apprentices between the age of 21 and 24 in a bid to create 12,500 new positions over the next three years.

Employers will be given cash incentives to take on new apprentices aged 21-24, in a bid to create 12,500 new jobs over the next three years.

The Morrison Government will on Thursday extend its one-off $4000 payment to employers who take on an eligible ­apprentice in that age group who is studying for certificate III or IV in areas of skills needs.

Until now, that handout was only for employers who engaged someone 25 or older starting an apprenticeship.

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Skills and Vocational ­Education Minister Michaelia Cash. Picture: AAP

It has been argued the Fair Work Commission’s determination that an “adult apprentice” for wage purposes was someone aged 21 or older when they started the ­apprenticeship has created a disincentive for businesses to take on an ­apprentice aged 21 to 24.

The ­result has been a decline in the number of adult apprentices in that age bracket.

Skills and Vocational ­Education Minister Michaelia Cash said the $27.7 million ­program was making it easier for Australians to start an ­apprenticeship.

“Older apprentices are some of the best workers in our community,” she said. “The experience and ­maturity they bring to their ­apprenticeship — after years of studying or working elsewhere — are valued by employers.

“Extending the eligibility to adult apprentices aged 21 to 24 will encourage more of our ­employers to take them on.”