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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationHIA welcomes apprentice incentive
HIA welcomes apprentice incentive
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“The five $2,000 incentive payments staggered throughout the course of an apprenticeship in the residential building industry will support the retention of an apprentice and combat the concerning non-completion rates we continue to see.
“Increasing the living away from home allowance could also see greater activity in regional areas that struggle to attract key housing trades.
“While incentive payments are a key piece to addressing skills shortages, it is just one tool in the toolkit government has to address this issue and make the delivery of housing a priority,” Ms Martin continued.
“The Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System released today clearly acknowledged the complexity of the problem. The Report made 34 recommendations, many of which focused on supporting employers including the role group training organisations have in supporting small and medium business (SME) to hire apprentices. The Report outlined that 60 per cent of apprentices are taken on by SMEs.
“Retention rates are also much better for apprentices through industry based mentoring programs, including group training organisations, where pastoral care is a key aspect. Mentors can offer support and guidance to young people entering the workforce.
“We need to attract more people to careers in the construction industry, we need to ensure that there are enough employers creating the employment opportunities and providing the on-site work experience, and we need well-resourced VET providers delivering high quality training.
“HIA’s All Hands On Deck found that if Australia is to reach the Housing Accord target of 1.2 million homes in the next five years there needs to be an injection of 83,000 trades people into the workforce.
“The residential building industry currently employs approximately 278,000 tradies across the twelve key trade occupations required for home building. The trades workforce needs to grow by at least 30 per cent to meet the Accord’s goals. That is over 83,000 additional tradies.
“We can only make housing a priority if we have a workforce capable of building the homes we need to reduce the barriers to home ownership,” concluded Ms Martin.
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Infrastructure remains the barrier to increased housing supply
“Residential land prices increased by 1.5 per cent in the final quarter of 2025 to be 9.4 per cent higher over the year, increasing almost three times faster than consumer prices over the same period,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
HIA Values statement for the residential building industry
This Values Statement sets out HIA's position in relation to the core beliefs and principles that should guide the residential construction industry, shaping how it operates, conducts business, and interacts with all stakeholders.
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