The state government has announced a $58 million investment in fee-free TAFE courses, in a bid to add more workers to the construction industry.
Previously announced as an election commitment through its Made in WA plan, the state government today confirmed the funding for new courses and apprenticeships.
Under the Made in WA plan, the state government promised to make a further seven housing and construction TAFE courses fee free, bringing the total to 17.
During a press conference at North Metropolitan TAFE in Balga this morning, Premier Roger Cook said the fee-free program was critical in ensuring the state government has skilled workers.
“We have the fastest growing population in the country, so workforce availability is going to be a key outcome that we address as part of continuing to grow the WA economy and Western Australian jobs,” he said.
“We want to continue to grow our workforce as you know, with AUKUS we are set to create tens of thousands of jobs as part of our defense construction opportunities.
“Of course, then you have the green energy projects, solar and wind projects right across the length and breadth of this state that will need workers, and so it’s important that we have our TAFE sector ready, willing and able to train and provide those workers to the growing economy.”
Mr Cook said there had been a 260 per cent increase in building and construction TAFE enrolments in 2024.
Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the data bodes well for the residential housing and commercial construction sectors.
“We know that we’re going to need many more construction workers. Delivering our clean energy alone will require at least 17,000 more skilled workers to be able to deliver the transmission infrastructure for clean energy,” she said.
“We’re then going to need incredible numbers of electrical trades to actually run our electrified future.”