- Program has been extended for new entrants to 30 September 2021
- The 100,000 cap limit has been removed
- More post-JobKeeper stimulus expected to be announced soon
In light of the cessation of JobKeeper – which is to end later this month – the Federal Government has announced an extension of the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement wage subsidy.
A maximum subsidy of $7,000 per quarter per eligible Australian Apprentice will be available for all new entrants until 30 September 2021, assuming the subsidy supports no more than half of the apprentices or trainees wage.
A full 12 months of support will be provided.
Notably, the 100,000 cap limit for the program has been removed and any sized business or industry will be eligible under the program, including Group Training Organsiaitons.
Sources suggest 70,000 new apprentice and trainees places will be generated by the extension which will cost $1.2 billion – the same cost as the first stage.
More specific details are expected to be announced.
So far almost 40,000 businesses have taken on a new apprentice or trainee, including many in the property and construction industries.
In an interview on Channel Nine this morning, Senator Michaelia Cash, the Employment Minister, said close to 40% of the 100,000 positions the program created went to women – far greater than what was forecast.
“I think its around 36 per cent of the new commencements have been women, so that’s actually above what you’d normally see”
Senator Cash, Minister for Employment
Both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg are expected to announce more post-JobKeeper measures today and over the next few days, so stay tuned.
