Plan to fix shortage of 70,000 tradies across Australian industries
There is a warning today that Australia's shortage of thousands of welders threatens the completion of major infrastructure and defence projects.
A forecast shortfall of 70,000 welders is putting the building of AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines, South Australia's Torrens to Darlington road project, and shipbuilding programs all at risk warns industry body Weld Australia.
The dearth of welders has been caused by larger companies snapping up qualified welders, leaving smaller businesses struggling, it says.
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Australia needs thousands more welders to build major infrastructure projects, a peak body warns. Nine
While the industry's current apprenticeship model is crucial for producing skilled welders, it can take up to four years to complete.
To remedy the crisis, Weld Australia is launching a streamlined training program, designed to rapidly train job-ready, certified welders in just 12 weeks.
It meets industry standards and certifies students to perform specific welding tasks in as little as three months.
Weld Australia chief executive Geoff Crittenden said the new training program helped to fill skill gaps in businesses.
"Rather than competing with traditional apprenticeship programs, our micro-credential approach fills the gaps and enhances the offering.
"It allows students to start contributing to the workforce quickly, while still keeping the door open for further, long-term training."
The program also aims to encourage Indigenous people, women, and the long-term unemployed in joining the welding industry.
In other news, the federal government will add builders and other tradies to Australia's skilled migration list to help solve the housing crisis, The Australian Financial Review reports.
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