The printing industry has welcomed $100 million Federal Government spending on training to employ 21,000 fresh faces in the manufacturing industries.

Under the scheme that runs from December to the end of January, employers of apprentices aged under 19 are eligible for payments of $4,850, up from $1,500. After a period of nine months employers will be eligible for a further $2,500.

It is in addition to payments under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program. Employers of Australian apprentices at the certificate III level and above may already be eligible to receive $4,000 in incentives: $1,500 for the start and $2,500 on completion of the apprentice’s training.

It was a “much-needed stimulus for employers to recruit young people”, said Printing Industries’ training policy manager, Neal McLary. It will make it much more likely that printers would employ trainees, he said.

“It’s certainly no lottery win for employers, but in difficult times when apprenticeship numbers are falling quite dramatically in our industry, it is a welcome incentive for companies to reconsider their positions to take advantage of the funding,” McLary said.

 “We encourage our members to take advantage of these additional allowances and bring forward business decisions to hire new apprentices,” he said.

“Such initiatives are practical and responsive to our labour market needs. They help minimise the risk of skill shortages arising from the downfall in apprenticeship enrolments currently being experienced through the economic downturn. They are also a considerable boost for the prospects of Australian youth seeking a trade.”

Binding and finishing and print machining trades would benefit from the spending. And $20 million from the $100 million will go to 5,000 pre-apprenticeship places to train youth in skills they need to complete a trade.

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