Justin Clancy Shadow
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education
The Minns Labor Government has trumpeted a modest increase in apprenticeship commencements while failing to acknowledge that NSW has 3,445 fewer trade apprentices in training than just a year ago.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan has pointed to a 2.4 per cent increase in NSW trade commencements as evidence Labor is "rebuilding the skills pipeline".
However, NCVER figures for the 12 months to March 2026 show the number of trade apprentices and trainees in training in NSW has fallen from 65,565 to 62,120, a 5.3 per cent decline.
Since March 2022, the number has fallen by 9,515, a 13.3 per cent decline.
Shadow Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Justin Clancy said behind Labor's spin the figures show the NSW trade pipeline remained substantially smaller.
"Labor can spin the numbers, but it can't hide the fact that there are 3,445 fewer trade apprentices in training in NSW than there were a year ago," Mr Clancy said.
"The Minister has grabbed hold of a 2.4 per cent increase in commencements and declared the pipeline is being rebuilt.
"But the very same NCVER data show the number of trade apprentices actually in training has fallen by 5.3 per cent in twelve months, and decreased by more than 9,500 since March 2022.
"That is not a statistic Labor included in today's media release."
The longer-term commencement figures also show the scale of the challenge.
There were 27,910 NSW trade commencements in the 12 months to March 2022. Despite the latest improvement, there were only 22,385 in the 12 months to March 2026, almost 20 per cent fewer.
"Right now, NSW has fewer trade apprentices in training, while families need homes built and businesses are struggling to find skilled workers," Mr Clancy said.
"The Government should spend less time spinning the statistics and more time asking why thousands of apprentices have disappeared from the NSW training pipeline."
