$252 Million Boost For Council Apprentices And Trainees

The NSW Government is investing $252.2 million to employ an additional 1,300 apprentices and trainees in the local government sector across the state, the largest state government investment in directly hiring new apprentices in recent memory.

This investment will train up the next generation of skilled labour while keeping jobs within local councils, reversing the trend of councils outsourcing jobs to contractors.

The direct investment will go towards hiring new roles created by councils above their current workforce numbers with the new roles to focus on in demand trades including electricians, plumbers, engineers, civil construction workers, mechanics, planning cadets and many more.

The investment will target trainees, apprentices and cadets making up 15 per cent of local council workforces.

Guidelines are being developed for councils with the first batch of apprentices and trainees to start their new careers early next year.