Threat to the Future of Trades

Apprentices and trainees are facing mounting financial and personal pressures, marking a growing risk to apprenticeship completion rates, training continuity and the future pipeline of skilled workers.

The financial strain is also taking a toll on wellbeing, with more than one in three (36 per cent) reporting stress, anxiety or mental health challenges impacting their work or training.

Many pointed directly to cost-of-living pressures as the driver, describing “living pay cheque to pay cheque”, losing sleep over expenses and fearing they may not be able to afford to get to work.

Fuel and transport costs are emerging as a critical pressure point, particularly for apprentices travelling long distances or working in areas with limited public transport.
Some respondents said fuel costs were consuming almost 70 per cent of their weekly wage, while others reported spending up to $300 a week just getting to work.

These pressures are compounding broader cost-of-living stress, with apprentices describing challenges balancing rent, groceries, study costs and essential work equipment - often on first-year wages.

While 94 per cent reported stable housing, the data points to growing vulnerability, with some respondents reporting temporary living arrangements, overcrowding or risk of losing housing due to rising costs.

New insights from Apprenticeship Support Australia (ASA), delivered by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, show more than half of respondents (57 per cent) are experiencing financial difficulties that are affecting their ability to meet day-to-day expenses such as rent, fuels, bills and tools.

While most apprentices feel supported in their workplace (92 per cent), the qualitative responses reveal gaps in support, with some reporting a lack of training, unpaid overtime and no assistance with rising costs such as fuel or tools.

Encouragingly, most apprentices are staying engaged with their training, with 90 per cent keeping up with coursework and 82 per cent reporting satisfactory progress.

But there are clear warning signs. Nearly one in five (19 per cent) said they are struggling to balance work, study and personal life, often because of long hours, financial pressure and the need to take on extra work to make ends meet.  The findings suggest this is not simply a short-term cost issue. They point to a system that is already under strain and becoming harder to sustain, especially for regional apprentices, vulnerable cohorts and employers operating on thin margins.

There is an urgent need for increased practical, targeted support that helps apprentices stay connected to work and training, while giving employers more capacity to keep them on.

Priorities for reform include:
•    Targeted travel support and cost-of-living support, including fuel cards or similar relief for apprentices and trainees who must drive to work, training or their RTO/TAFE - particularly given many report they simply cannot afford to attend training due to fuel costs
•    Stronger place-based support for regional apprentices, including better recognition of long travel distances, limited public transport options and higher cost burdens, which are directly impacting both participation and completion rates
•    Expanded access to existing assistance measures, such as vehicle registration support and other cost-relief settings, for a broader range of apprentices and trainees
•    More flexible training delivery from TAFE and RTO providers, including greater variation in start and finish times and delivery modes, to better accommodate apprentices balancing long travel, work commitments and cost pressures
•    Expanded Free TAFE access for apprentices, particularly those who gave been displaced from host employers, allowing them to continue training without interruption
•    Greater flexibility for apprentices to remain engaged in training during periods of downtime or displacement, so they do not lose momentum while awaiting redeployment
•    Stronger support for Group Training Organisations to rotate, retain and protect apprentices when host employers can no longer keep them on
•    Faster and more consistent TAFE onboarding, course access and progression support
•    Expanded wellbeing and mental health support tailored to apprentices and trainees
•    More targeted responses for high-cost trades, vulnerable cohorts and sectors facing the greatest workforce risk 

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive, Sally Curtain, said “We are also hearing that some employers are quietly stepping in to help apprentices stay on the job, whether that is with fuel, cash support or other informal arrangements. That support matters, but it should not be invisible, and it should not be relied on as the system’s fallback plan.”

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