More construction apprentices to build more homes

Apprentices across Australia are being supported into apprenticeships in housing construction trades, with data from the first three months of the Albanese Government’s Key Apprenticeship Program (KAP) showing promising results right around the country.

The Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream of KAP, which opened for applications on 1 July 2025, has seen 4,675 apprentice commencements in vocations such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, glaziers and painters – all jobs that are essential to building the homes Australians need.

The Program supports apprentices with up to $10,000 in financial support to help them complete their apprenticeship, with milestone payments of $2,000 at six, 12, 24 and 36 months, as well as on completion of the apprenticeship.

The most popular commencements are in critical jobs for housing construction, with more than 1,700 carpenters and joiners, more than 940 plumbers and more than 660 electrical trades workers.

The Program is also delivering results across the country, with regional communities seeing almost one third of commencements – nearly 1,500 apprentices.

Following the success of the Government’s New Energy Apprenticeship Program that commenced in 2023, the Government expanded the program into the Key Apprenticeship Program in July 2025 with a dedicated Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:

“The Albanese Government is focused on boosting the pipeline of apprentices to build more homes.

“The Key Apprenticeship Program is an important way we are backing in apprentices to undertake their apprenticeship, complete it, and get working as fully qualified tradespeople – and as the research tells us for every new qualified tradie 2.4 new homes will be built each year.

“Our Government is delivering more carpenters, plumbers and electricians to build more homes for Australians right across our country.”

ENDS