Official data shows 1190 fewer Tasmanians are engaged in apprenticeships or traineeships than when the Federal Coalition took office more than six years ago.
That’s a drop of 12.5 per cent.
Over the same period, the Government has issued more than 500,000 visas to overseas workers to cover the skills shortages created by its cuts to TAFE and training.
Tasmanian employers are crying out for qualified workers.
The skills crisis in engineering, health, trades, technicians and construction is hurting the Tasmanian economy and denying young people a pathway to secure, well-paid jobs.
Nationwide, since the Liberals were elected six years ago, Australia has lost around 150,000 apprenticeships and traineeships.
Scott Morrison has no plan to fix the skills crisis he created.
He has no plan to create more jobs or to lift wages for those who are employed.
Australia is perfectly placed to reap the benefits offered by the extraordinary economic growth in our region.
But to take full advantage of this growth we must train Australians so they have the skills and qualifications to exploit the looming opportunities in manufacturing and construction.
