APPRENTICESHIPS IN CRISIS

WHY YOUNG AUSSIES ARE TURNING AWAY FROM TRADES

Once upon a time, apprenticeships were the backbone of Australia’s workforce. They offered a pathway to a rewarding career, a decent living, and the skills to help build the nation. But the story is very different for today’s young Aussies—especially here in Tasmania. A combination of government neglect, unhealthy workplace cultures, poor wages, and a lack of support in schools has turned what was once a respected career path into a crisis.

I have a personal interest in the apprenticeship pathway and I’m speaking from experience. Having completed my carpentry apprenticeship in the 90s and moving on to be a builder and construction manager, I too experienced the abovementioned, albeit I believe to a lesser extent than what I have witnessed of others younger than I.

I have a strong belief if you put on an apprentice, it’s your responsibility to mentor them well with the mindset of making them a better tradesperson than yourself. Over the past 25 years, I’ve had 21 apprentices in my charge, two of which were apprentice of the year for their region. I suppose, in a way, I should take pride in that.

If you’ve ever wondered why we’re facing a skill shortage in industries as diverse as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, food production, energy, and the humble hairdresser, the answer lies in the broken apprenticeship system.

It’s time to lay it all out and figure out how we got here—and what needs to change.

WHERE IT ALL STARTS: SCHOOLS DROPPING THE BALL

Ask any tradie, and most of them will tell you their career often began with solid advice from a teacher, mentor, or family member, although in my case, my school year advisor did not, and asked me to reconsider.

In the past two decades, schools have shifted their focus almost entirely to university pathways. The message to students is clear: If you don’t go to uni, you’re somehow settling for less and that’s how I was made to feel leaving high school. This cultural bias has left trades and apprenticeships on the back burner.

In Tasmania, like the rest of the country, there’s a noticeable gap in career guidance for students interested in vocational training. A survey of apprentices found that only 27% had received any meaningful career advice before starting their apprenticeship. Many later said they would have chosen a different path if they’d had proper guidance.

Barriers such as mandatory literacy and numeracy tests create another hurdle. These tests may sound good on paper, but they often discourage young people who struggle academically in school. Instead of offering support, the system sets them up to fail before they’ve even started.

TOXIC WORKPLACE CULTURES: HAZING, BULLYING, AND EXPLOITATION

Once a young person finally gets their foot in the door as an apprentice, they’re often met with challenges that go well beyond learning the ropes. Bullying, hazing, and verbal abuse are all too common in Australian workplaces. Stories of apprentices being coerced into dangerous practices or being the butt of cruel jokes aren’t rare—they’re the norm in some industries.

One apprentice shared that their first few weeks were spent cleaning job sites and being ridiculed rather than learning actual skills. Another reported being pressured into taking drugs to “fit in” with their team. These aren’t just demoralising; they’re a direct reason why nearly half of all apprentices drop out before completing their training.

Hell, I still carry an old injury on my right shoulder from my first year, which I copped from an abusive bricklayer throwing a brick at me because I wasn’t pushing a wheelbarrow full of mud quick enough for his liking. My boss just looked at me and the brickie, kind of stunned, and said nothing. I complained to the company which organised my apprenticeship but in the end, nothing happened. Knowing my rights now and how I run my sites, the police would have been the first phone call. I also experienced wage theft in my second year which lasted for about nine months. Knowing your rights is important. Workplace mentorship is another major issue. A good apprenticeship relies on skilled tradespeople passing on their knowledge, but many senior workers—likely shaped by their own negative experiences—fail to provide proper guidance. Instead, apprentices are left to fend for themselves or stuck doing menial tasks with little skill-building involved.

GOVERNMENT AND SHORT-TERM THINKING

If you’re wondering where the government fits into this mess, the answer is: not very well. For years, federal and state governments have underfunded vocational education, leaving TAFE programs in disarray.

While some governments push apprenticeship commencement programs, which have temporarily increased sign-ups, they’ve done little to address the long-term problems. As soon as funding for these programs ends, apprenticeship numbers drop off a cliff. And when the government does provide incentives, they often focus on subsidising employers rather than directly supporting apprentices.

This lack of regulation also enables exploiters which can cycle through cheap, first-year apprentices without ever intending to retain or train them properly. In Victoria, not a single employer lost their apprenticeship approvals despite numerous complaints of mistreatment. That’s a clear sign the system isn’t holding anyone accountable.

THE WAGE PROBLEM: WORKING HARD, EARNING PEANUTS

If you think apprenticeships are a way to earn while you learn, think again. Many apprentices are paid barely enough to cover the cost of living, let alone tools, transport, and other work-related expenses. For those in their first year, it’s even worse. Low wages force many to take on second jobs or rely on family support just to get by.

And it doesn’t stop there. Wage theft is rampant, with apprentices reporting delayed wage deposits and being paid below award rates. These practices not only make it harder to stay afloat but also erode trust in the apprenticeship system.

When young workers are financially strained, they’re more likely to drop out before completing which creates a vicious cycle where industries face skill shortages, and the next generation of tradespeople is nowhere to be found.

SKILLS SHORTAGES: A NATIONAL EMERGENCY

The fallout from these systemic issues is impossible to ignore. With nearly half of all apprentices failing to complete their training, industries like construction, energy, and manufacturing are grappling with significant skill shortages. In Tasmania, where infrastructure and housing projects are critical for the state’s growth, this shortage is felt acutely.

Adding to the problem is an aging workforce. Many skilled tradespeople are nearing retirement, and without a steady supply of apprentices to replace them, the future looks grim. The skills gap isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a threat to our economy and our ability to build, repair, and innovate.

MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES: THE HUMAN COST

Amid all these challenges, it’s important to remember the toll this crisis takes on apprentices themselves. Poor working conditions, financial stress, and a lack of support create a perfect storm for mental health issues. Anxiety, depression, and burnout are common among apprentices, with some even reporting suicidal thoughts. If you consider yourself a decent employer and human being, brush up on the theory of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

For young Tasmanians, who already face limited job opportunities compared to mainland states, these struggles can feel insurmountable. And so, the apprenticeship system risks becoming a breeding ground for mental health crises rather than a pathway to success.

HOW DO WE FIX IT?

The good news is that these problems aren’t insurmountable.

Here are some of the things that need to happen:

A CALL TO ACTION

The apprenticeship crisis isn’t just a problem for tradies or employers—it’s a problem for all of us. Without a strong apprenticeship system, Tasmania and the rest of Australia will struggle to build the workforce we need for the future. For Millennials and Gen Z, who are already facing housing affordability issues and climate anxiety, fixing apprenticeships is one step toward creating a more secure and stable society.

The question now is whether governments and industries will step up to the plate—or whether they’ll keep kicking the can down the road. I’m seeing some effort from government and industry, but I’m a firm believer we need a big shift in thinking to fix the problem.

One thing’s for sure: Australia’s apprentices deserve better. And so do we.