- The Crisafulli Government is delivering on a key election commitment with the launch of a $19 million pilot program to support small and family-owned construction businesses.
- Wage subsidies during training periods are available for 2,000 construction apprentices.
- More small businesses can afford to train and retain skilled workers, helping address Labor's Skills Shortage and secure the future of Queensland's construction industry.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy and a fresh start for Queensland.
Queensland small and family-owned construction businesses are getting the right tools for the job, with the Crisafulli Government delivering a $19 million pilot program to help train and retain apprentices.
The Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program will subsidise the wages of construction apprentices during off-site training – easing the financial burden for small business owners.
Eligible small businesses can receive a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the typical wage for first and second year construction apprentices and 25 per cent for third and fourth year apprentices while attending the equivalent of up to eight weeks of training a year.
The program is part of the fresh start the Crisafulli Government promised, to end Labor's skills shortage and secure a pipeline of skilled workers to deliver a better lifestyle through a stronger economy.
The program includes:
- apprentices under 21 may be eligible for a total subsidy payment of $10,060 over four years;
- apprentices 21 and over may be eligible for a total subsidy payment of $13,740 over four years.
The pilot program will support 2,000 small business employed construction trade apprentices across the state who commence their apprenticeship from 1 July 2025.
Small business owners can register once an apprentice has completed their probation period, and will be eligible for the subsidy once the apprentice is enrolled and attends training.
The Crisafulli Government is further backing the State's construction sector through:
- more than $98 million in construction specific training initiatives over the 2024-25 period, supporting over 29,000 students.
- $10 million to continue the delivery of the Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s program over two years.
- $4 million for free Construction Apprenticeships for eligible Over 25s over three years.
- a new $78 million TAFE Centre of Excellence training hub for construction and allied trades at Caloundra.
- support of the $60 million Construction Skills Queensland Annual Training Plan (2025-26) to fund skills development, workforce support, and industry research.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the new pilot program was a major step in strengthening Queensland's construction workforce.
"This directly responds to calls from the small business industry to ease the pressure of training and retaining skilled workers in this crucial sector, and we're delivering support just as we promised," Minister Bates said.
"The construction industry is the third largest industry in Queensland and is central to some of our key priorities, including delivering vital housing, health, transport and infrastructure projects, and of course the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"For a decade, Labor presided over a skills shortage, allowing the skills gap to widen while demand for housing and infrastructure soared.
"I heard directly from industry what we need to do to fix Labor's skills shortage, and help build Queensland's construction workforce, and we are getting on with the job."
Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the program was funded as part of the Crisafulli Government's Small and Family Business First Action Statement.
"Our government is stepping up with new funding of over $100 million to assist small and family businesses to grow and succeed," Minister Minnikin said.
"We want small and family construction businesses to continue to employ and train more apprentices, but also retain apprentices to deliver critical infrastructure."
Member for Redlands Rebecca Young said the program would support local tradies to continue to employ and train apprentices.
"The Redlands area is rapidly growing and home to a large number of tradies and apprentices," Ms Young said.
"This program will make it more affordable for small business employers to take on apprentices and complete their training, while allowing tradies to get on with the job of building our critical infrastructure."
