Skills shortages continue to impact worksites and businesses across Australia. Projects stall. Costs rise. Your team feels the pressure in day-to-day operations. That leads many employers to ask one question: Is hiring an apprentice worth it?
According to the MEGT Productivity Prospectus 2025, the answer is yes. Apprenticeships and traineeships deliver measurable productivity gains, strengthen workplace culture and create long-term value for both you and your business.
The Real Return on Investment for Employers
Apprenticeships are not just a pathway for young people. They are a strategic business investment.
A national increase in apprenticeship completion could add $14.4 billion to the Australian economy through improved productivity and tax revenue. Research also indicates a median return to employers of approximately $144 to $148 for every $100 invested in an apprenticeship.
For your business, that return shows up in:
- Lower recruitment cost
- Reduced staff turnover
- Improved productivity
- A loyal workforce trained to your processes
Apprentices are typically paid lower wages than fully qualified workers. This allows you to phase in labour cost gradually while building capability. When done well, hiring apprentices is cost-effective in both the short and long term.
Benefits of Hiring Apprentices and Trainees
Hiring apprentices and trainees brings practical advantages to your workplace.
Develop skills tailored to your business
You shape training around your tools, systems and safety practices. Apprentices learn your processes from day one and align with your workplace culture.
New energy and fresh ideas
Apprentices often bring enthusiasm, new ideas and exposure to current industry techniques. This fresh energy can lift morale across your team.
Support experienced staff
Apprentices can assist with routine tasks, allowing experienced staff to focus on complex tasks and leadership opportunities. Using senior team members for mentoring strengthens leadership skills and boosts morale.
Build your future workforce
Training apprentices allows you to invest in the next generation of tradespeople. It helps secure your workforce for the future and ensures your business remains competitive.
Hiring just anyone does not solve workforce issues. Apprentices offer real advantages.
Job-ready workers
92% of apprentices are employed within a year of completion. They outperform non-apprentices by 16 percentage points. Better still, most work in roles directly related to their training .
Skills that stick
Apprenticeships combine real-world learning with structured training. The result? A workforce that understands your gear, your standards and your safety procedures.
Built for the hard yards
Apprentices who finish show higher levels of resilience and problem-solving, especially when supported properly. MEGT’s survey showed that those who completed demonstrated higher “grit” than those who dropped out.
Filling real shortages
61% of completions are in roles currently facing national skills shortages. These are trades you rely on every day like carpentry, plumbing, electrical and mechanical work.
Is Hiring an Apprentice Worth It?
Government Incentives and Funding Support
Hiring apprentices and trainees is supported by government incentives. Under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System, employers may access wage subsidies, tax rebates or direct payments. In Queensland, payroll tax rebates may also apply.
Employers can receive financial payments for hiring new apprentices and trainees, with priority support for industries such as construction, automotive and engineering. These incentives reduce the overall cost of hiring and make apprenticeship programs more cost effective for employers.
Employers are required to pay apprentices for time spent attending formal off the job training. However, you are not obliged to pay for the training itself. This balance helps manage wages while still supporting structured learning.
Businesses across Australia can save thousands each year through available funding and incentives. For full details on Queensland Government incentives, visit the Queensland Apprenticeship & Traineeship Incentives page.
The Apprenticeship Process: What Employers Need to Know
The first step in hiring an apprentice is finding a suitable candidate for your business. Once selected, you must sign a formal training contract. You are required to contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider to organise the apprenticeship process. The contract must be signed by both parties
Apprenticeships include a probation period so both you and the apprentice can assess suitability. You will also develop a training plan that must be endorsed by a registered training organisation, like Major Training Group. Apprentices and trainees split their time between workplace training and formal learning.
When you commit to training apprentices, you must keep them employed for a minimum period and ensure they complete a minimum number of working hours. There is paperwork and compliance involved, but support is available to make the process easier.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Not investing in apprenticeships or traineeships comes at a price:
- Delayed housing builds
- Slower infrastructure delivery
- Ongoing productivity drag
- Fewer pathways into skilled jobs
Without more completions, Australia’s ability to meet demand in construction, care and infrastructure will continue to struggle, and that affects your business’s ability to deliver.
Apprentices Are Essential for Construction and Priority Trades
Construction employers are already struggling to fill roles. Labour gaps delay projects and increase costs. Despite overall declines in some sectors, construction trade apprenticeship commencements have grown over the past decade. In 2024, one in four apprenticeship completions was in a construction occupation – essential for meeting housing and infrastructure targets. For businesses in construction, automotive, engineering and other skilled trades, apprenticeships and traineeships are critical workforce strategies, not optional extras.
Is Hiring an Apprentice Worth It?
Why Apprentice Completions are Lagging
There are real barriers to apprentice and trainee success:
- Job or employer changes
- Low early-year wages
- Poor supervision and support
- Training provider or placement issues
These issues are not about capability, they are about structure and support. With clear guidance, fair wages, good mentoring and defined progression pathways, completion rates improve and businesses benefit from a skilled and stable workforce.
How Major Training Supports
At Major Training, we partner with employers to remove the barriers that hinder apprentice success. We offer:
- Flexible delivery options
Training can be delivered on-site, online or through a blend of both. We work around your business, not the other way around. - Real-world, hands-on learning
We train apprentices using the same tools, machinery and conditions they’ll face on the job. - Clear progression pathways
Apprentices know what’s expected from day one. We guide them step-by-step through skills, units and job readiness. - Industry-backed trainers
Our trainers have real trade experience, not just theory. They understand what it takes to make it on site. - Ongoing employer support
We don’t leave you to figure it out alone. From sign-up to completion, we’re in your corner helping with paperwork, compliance and mentoring tips.
By combining structured training with flexibility and support, we help apprentices stay on track and deliver value to your business throughout their training.
The Bottom Line
Hiring an apprentice or trainee is a strategic investment in your business, workforce and industry. You gain:
- Skilled workers trained to your standards
- Access to financial incentives
- Greater workforce stability and retention
- A role in strengthening your industry’s future
If skills shortages are slowing your projects, building your own pipeline of apprentices and trainees may be the most practical and cost-effective solution.
Ready to Hire An Apprentice?
Major Training helps businesses across Queensland and New South Wales with practical, flexible apprenticeship and traineeship programs designed to meet real industry needs.
Call our team on 1300 790 822 or enquire online to discuss the right training pathways for your business.
