Cairns trade apprentices shortage attributed to new career pathways
From about 40 students door knocking for a trade apprenticeship, to none – FNQ’s trade shortage has grown into a marketing battle with the future of the industry’s workforce under threat.
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A WELL documented trade shortage in the Far North has grown into a talent development and marketing battle with the future of the industry’s workforce under threat.
Trade training and employment services and a building advocacy organisation have reported an abundance of post-school pathway opportunities have led to a natural decrease in school leavers opting for the traditional trade apprenticeship pathway.
Although Master Builders does not provide an employment service, the organisation’s Far North Queensland regional manager Sharon Vella said last year she would often field inquiries from both recent high school graduates and businesses looking to fill trade apprenticeship vacancies.
“We had about 30 to 40 students asking if we knew where they could get an apprenticeship (last year),” Ms Vella said.
“This year, nothing, it’s just gone completely silent.”
Ms Vella said carpentry apprentices seemed to be highest in demand, because of how diverse their work was.
“There’s contractors with 12 months, maybe two years worth of work they’re signed up for, this is the perfect opportunity to get trades skills for apprentices.”
The Far North has a number of Group Training Organisations (GTOs), and each told the Cairns Post the pool of students available to take on apprentices had reduced and was threatened by the availability of “diverse range of career options.”
One provider said it had essentially become a marketing battle between tertiary education providers and GTOs, and the only way to claw interest back was through regular education and exposure of trade pathways at a school level.
Cairns trade apprenticeship and training course provider Major Training’s regional manager Katherine Schneider said there were a number of reasons employers were struggling to fill apprenticeships.
“These trade roles aren’t easy, they’re hard work especially in Far North and with technology, students have a lot of options for pathways,” she said.
“Once upon a time in Cairns it was go to uni, or get a trade. Now there’s a lot more options, studying online is just one.”
Ms Schneider said the local Covid outbreak had also impacted the willingness of the “traditional doorknock” of school leavers asking tradies for work.
Busy At Work national manager apprenticeships David Rice said he subscribed to the idea the “pool of candidates” was draining away, but did not believe interest was declining.
“We’re booked out weeks in advanced to sign on new apprentices,” he said.
“But there is so much work, the uptake rate is probably draining that pool away, and it makes it seem like there’s no apprentices.”
Cairns carpenter Martyn Sheargold of MJS Building Solutions said he’d received a couple of “cold calls” from students looking for apprenticeships, but tradies faced a double-edged sword.
“You want to put them on, but everyone has that much work, no one has the time to train.
“And with material costs rising, the margins are fine. So you can’t go out of budget or time, which can happen if you’ve got a new apprentice. You can’t afford to stuff up.”
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Originally published as Cairns trade apprentices shortage attributed to new career pathways
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