Could hiring an apprentice be the right choice for your business?
In recent years there has been a steady decline in apprenticeship numbers, both in the uptake and completion of training. With lower numbers of students seeking out apprenticeships, businesses are also taking on fewer apprentices. This is a worrying trend, and is contributing to a skills deficit in crucial sectors of the work force.
High growth has been predicted for both traditional trades and other vocational areas, such as aged care and hospitality, meaning the need for people to fill these positions will likely supersede the amount of skilled workers we are producing, causing some businesses to warn of further skills shortages.
Why the decline?
Various reasons have been contributing to the decline in the uptake of apprentices by business, including: economic downturn (it’s commonly believed that during hard times apprentices are the last to be hired, but the first to be let go); the quality of apprenticeship candidates, which has been affected by increased university participation due to the uncapping of university placements; and, a lack of both pre-apprenticeship career advice and little promotion of vocational career pathways, which sees more and more of these capable students being lured into university and away from taking up an apprenticeship. Further hindering businesses is the reduction of incentive based payments for employers hiring trainees and apprentices.
Why employ a trainee/apprentice?
With all these positives, why wouldn’t you hire an apprentice?
What we can do for you:
Here at Smart Employment Solutions, we help you with the whole process, by recruiting suitable candidates, paying their wages, coordinating apprentice training, as well as undertaking performance monitoring. We take care of all the paperwork for you.
Contact Smart Employment Solutions today, to discuss what an apprentice could do for your business!