- $21.6 million to expand the Cook Labor Government’s successful Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy Program
- $10,000 incentive on offer to help qualified building and construction workers to relocate to WA
- New programs to grow WA’s building and construction workforce
- $109.4 million invested in skilling local construction apprentices through the GTO Wage Subsidy Program since 2022
The Cook Labor Government will invest to supercharge training of WA’s local building and construction workforce and bring tradies over from the eastern states.
An additional 175 places will be added to the highly successful Group Training Organisation Wage Subsidy Program, with $21.6 million invested to create more opportunities for Western Australians to complete a building and construction apprenticeship, and earn while they learn on the job.
The Cook Government is also calling on building and construction professionals and tradespeople from across Australia to venture west, with a $10,000 payment on offer to help with their relocation costs from January 2025.
The $10,000 ‘Build a Life in WA’ incentive adds to the toolbox of measures now in place to bolster WA’s critical building and construction workforce, and provide WA employers with the skills they need to meet demand – particularly in the residential housing sector.
Suitably qualified construction workers from all Australian states and territories will be eligible for the ‘Build a Life in WA’ incentive.
To continue to build the local pipeline of skilled tradespeople for the building and construction sector, the State Government will inject $21.6 million into its GTO Wage Subsidy Program to support an additional 175 places for building and construction apprentices and trainees.
The expansion of the successful program, funded through the Construction Training Fund, will enable GTOs to provide more opportunities for Western Australians to complete an apprenticeship or traineeship.
This brings the State Government’s total investment in the program to $109.4 million, subsidising 775 places for construction apprentices and trainees to date.
To further support workforce expansion and potential job seekers, a new online WA Jobs and Workforce Hub has been launched to provide helpful resources all in one location for local, interstate and global job seekers looking for new opportunities, or to relocate to Western Australia. Visit the hub at .
To learn more about the ‘Build a Life in WA’ incentive and Construction Visa Subsidy Program, visit .
More information about the GTO Wage Subsidy Program is available on the Jobs and Skills WA website at
Final details on the ‘Build a Life in WA’ payments will be available online later this month.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“Building our construction workforce is the key to unlocking more homes.
“My Government continues to work with industry and training providers to train and skill-up Western Australians to bolster our residential construction workforce, while also attracting much-needed tradies to WA.
“WA is the engine room of Australia, with a diversifying economy and enviable lifestyle that makes our State a great place to build a life.
“We know that it’s a big investment for people to choose to relocate to our great State, which is why we’re offering a $10,000 payment to subsidise the costs of moving.
“Now is the time for eastern states tradies to start the job search, connect with employers and organise their trade registrations, so they can start the new year with a new job in Western Australia.
“We are also expanding our highly successful GTO Wage Subsidy Program, giving 175 more young Western Australians an opportunity to take up a subsidised apprenticeship with WA building and construction employers, so they can earn while they learn.”
As stated by Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
“We’re focused on doing everything we can to grow our building and construction workforce so that we can deliver the housing Western Australians need.
“The $10,000 ‘Build a Life in WA’ incentive is aimed at reducing the financial barriers people often face when choosing to relocate to pursue employment opportunities.
“For skilled tradies – such as bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters – WA offers well-paid and secure work with an ongoing pipeline of building and construction projects.”
As stated by Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk:
“We’re providing a range of incentives for building and construction employers and employees so we can get more boots on the ground and get homes built sooner.
“The GTO Wage Subsidy has been a big hit with small and medium businesses, and these additional places will help even more of them with the cost of taking on an apprentice – building a pipeline of workers for many years to come.
“The new $10,000 incentive is another way the State Government is working to boost our building and construction workforce as quickly as we can, so we can build more houses.
“WA has jobs available immediately for those working in the building and construction industry, especially in residential construction.
“With a new year on the horizon, it’s an ideal time for interstate construction workers thinking of making a lifestyle change, to turn those plans into a reality.”
