Growth in Tasmania’s building and construction industry is leading the nation with the total value of building approvals up 45 per cent in the year to September 2018.
Dwelling approvals are up by 11.2 per cent over the same period, with the number of dwelling commencements in the June quarter up 29 per cent – three times the national average.
Employment in Tasmania’s building and construction industry is also at its highest ever level, at more than 23,000 workers according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In Parliament today, the Tasmania Building and Construction Training Board Annual Report 2017-18 was tabled, which shows 1,786 apprentices got their start in the industry in 2017-18, a 22 per cent increase from 2016-17.
The report demonstrates how the Hodgman Liberal Government is delivering on its Plan to grow employment in the industry by 25 per cent, and increase apprenticeships and traineeships by 40 per cent over the next five years. This is being supported by investments including;
- $20 million in our Government’s User Choice Program to assist with the cost for training apprentices and trainees.
- $9.4 million to extend the Payroll Tax Rebate Scheme to support around 3,000 new trainees and apprentices.
- $7.5 million for Targeted Small Business Grants for Apprentices and Trainees to support 500 new apprenticeships and traineeships each year and ensure local small business can access the skilled workers they need to grow.
These initiatives will ensure we have the workforce we need to build Tasmania’s future while stimulating growth and getting Tasmanians into long term, sustainable employment.
Our targets for skilling Tasmania’s workforce for the future include:
- Reducing the youth unemployment rate to at or below the national average by 2022.
- A 40% increase in apprentices and trainees in the private sector by 2025.
- A 10% increase in small business employment by 2022.
- A 25% increase in people employed in the building and construction sector over the next five years.
See all of our targets at: https://www.tas.liberal.org.au/sites/default/files/BuildingYourFuture.pdf
