Jobs with a Future

An Overview by John Sutton

Job opportunities in the Australian building industry are at an all time high. This should be great news for young people. However, it’s not.

Despite the boom, traditional employment opportunities in the industry — through apprenticeships and traineeships — have dwindled throughout the 1990s and continue to trend down.

At the same time, too many young people remain unemployed.

The CFMEU is committed to changing this situation: by advocating for better training and employment opportunities for young people and by undertaking training, in partnership with other industry leaders, at Construction Skills Centres across the country.

The following paper outlines some of the factors which have contributed to the decline in job opportunities for young people in the construction industry.

Governments backing away from employing apprentices, in an era of public sector cuts, and the growth of Labour Hire firms on construction sites are just part of the picture. Increasing numbers of Working Holiday-Maker visa holders working on building sites are also denying young Australians jobs.

The CFMEU has lobbied the Commonwealth Government and relevant employer organisations to address each of these issues.

The union also argues that an immediate plan must be put in place to halt the decline in training in the construction industry. If Australian building is to continue to perform to world’s best practice standards, we must replace retiring tradespeople with highly skilled young people.

Young Australians are entitled to Jobs with a Future.

United we bargain - Divided we beg.

Contact the National Office, Construction Division at:
Level 12, 276 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Ph: 02 8524 5800
Fax: 02 8524 5801
Email: queries@fed.cfmeu.asn.au

Postal address: PO Box Q235, Queen Victoria Building Post Office, Sydney NSW 1230.