New South Wales apprentices are among those benefitting from the Albanese Labor Government's Key Apprenticeship Program (KAP), which is delivering more housing construction apprentices for communities across the state.
With the Housing Construction Apprenticeship (HCA) stream of the program recently marking six months, new data has revealed that in that time there have been 2,759 housing construction apprentice commencements in New South Wales from the program.
Carpenters and joiners are the most popular occupations under the program in NSW (1,122 commencements), followed by plumbers (536 commencements) and electrical trades workers (458 commencements).
The program, which helps apprentices to start and finish training in the critical skills needed to build more homes, provides support through a $10,000 incentive, paid in instalments over the course of their apprenticeship to assist with costs such as tools, equipment and fuel.
KAP apprentices receive $2,000 payments at six, 12, 24 and 36 months and on completion of their apprenticeship.
Employers of an apprentice under the program can claim up to $5,000 in the first year of the apprenticeship.
The Key Apprenticeship Program sits alongside other supports introduced by the Albanese Government to support more apprentices to start - and importantly finish - their apprenticeship, including the first increase to the Living Away from Home Allowance in 20 years.
Apprentices or employers interested in learning more about the Key Apprenticeship Program can find out more information at www.apprenticeships.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:
"Six months in to the Key Apprenticeship Program it's great to see so many apprentices across New South Wales taking up the tools to help us build more homes.
"From carpenters to electricians and plumbers, the Albanese Labor Government is backing more Australians to kickstart their apprenticeship in housing construction, and helping them through to the finish line too."
Quotes attributable to Member for Barton, Ash Ambihaipahar:
"Across our community we need to build more homes for locals - what better workforce to help make this happen than homegrown apprentices from Sydney and across New South Wales.
"If you're looking for a new career, there's never been a better time to get your start in an apprenticeship that will deliver secure, long-term work for your future."
BACKGROUND
Facts at a glance:
- In New South Wales there have been 2,759 housing construction apprentice commencements in the first six months of the Key Apprenticeship Program (1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025), across 2,186 employers.
- This includes:
- 1,486 (53.9%) apprentices aged 19 and under
- 139 (5%) female apprentices
- 74 (2.7%) school-based apprentices
- The top five occupations in New South Wales under the KAP are:
- Carpenters and joiners - 1,122 (40.7%) commencements
- Plumbers - 536 (19.4%) commencements
- Electrical trades workers - 458 (16.6%) commencements
- Electronics and telecommunications trades workers - 145 (5.3%) commencements
- Glaziers, plasterers and tilers - 128 (4.6%) commencements
