HIA urges employers to invest and employ locally

The building industry is urging employers to not only Buy Locally but to Invest & Employ Locally and consider taking up an apprentice under the new Apprentice Kickstart allowance.

This significant incentive to take on an apprentice is available today with the bonus for a new apprentice increasing from $1500 to $4850 in their first year.

HIA Branch Manager Nick Proud said today “d espite some pressures to the market which include the end of the First Home Owners Boost, additional cost to consumers for the move to 5 star energy efficiency and further time navigating a poor planning system there is no sign of a huge drop in demand, which provides an employer friendly market in the foreseeable future.

“Employers will receive $2350 when they employ a 15 to 19 year old apprentice in an eligible trade and then receive a further $2500 after they complete nine months.

“This is a huge boost for young Australian school leavers entering traditional trades this summer.

“This is available today and HIA wants to encourage employers to consider taking up new workers into the workforce.

“Fifteen to twenty years ago, policy and skill formation occupied a central position with Government to improve international competitiveness, workplace reform and the national training reform agenda. This was seen as necessary to achieve greater efficiency and more rewarding jobs, and this particular initiative starts to put much needed focus on skills development,” he said.

HIA will be encouraging its members to consider the incentive which runs through March 2010 and provides a strong incentive to take on apprentices in the following trades:

“Interested employers should contact HIA, MEGT or Jobnet to discuss these and other incentives to take on staff this summer,” said Nick Proud.