One thousand new apprentices and trainees will soon have jobs as the NSW Government commits $93.5 million to building a pipeline of skilled workers for the state.

This initiative is part of the NSW Government’s plan to tackle skills gaps in the state’s economy in priority industries, including in critical services of transport, electricity, water, IT and cyber security.

The program involves NSW Government departments, state-owned corporations, and other public service employers looking for opportunities to hire 500 apprentices and 500 trainees. This will include those who already hire apprentices and trainees, as well as those who have not traditionally taken on those workers.

This vital $93.5 million investment through the 2023-24 NSW Budget marks the delivery of an election commitment and is part of the government’s long-term plan to rebuild the essential services.

The government has a clear focus on responsibly managing finances to provide opportunities where people need them most, to improve the essential services, now and into the future.

Training Services NSW will work alongside TAFE NSW and other quality training providers to ensure apprentices and trainees are highly-qualified and can meet the needs of their employers.

This investment comes after the Liberals and Nationals planned cuts at TAFE NSW, which left unaddressed would have resulted in mass sackings and dozens of campuses closing.

All 1000 apprentices and trainees will join the NSW Government workforce by mid-2026.

Hiring early career, or upskilling mid-career workers, will ensure the government has access to a talented pool of workers in a competitive labour market.

The Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“It is vital the NSW Government is plugging skills gaps, including with hardworking apprentices and trainees.

“Our government is focused on building a strong workforce to deliver essential services for our community.

“This includes delivering on our election commitment to make sure we recruit 1000 apprentices and trainees in fields where they are needed.”

The Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Prue Car said:

“It is so wonderful there will be an opportunity for 1000 people to get a job as an apprentice or trainee with the NSW Government.

“Choosing a traineeship or an apprenticeship is an important path to a career and this announcement creates more certainty in training and upskilling workers across the state.

“This initiative will see apprentices and trainees given a leg up in their career, and I look forward to seeing these apprentices working across NSW.”

The Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“We’re building up our state’s transport sector by delivering on the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to deliver more trainees and apprenticeships.

“Encouraging public sector organisations like Sydney Trains to train and upskill their workforces, locks in our state’s next generation of mechanics, engineers and frontline staff and sets our network up for the future.”