More Modern Apprenticeships needed for a skilled future
Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey has announced the number of Modern Apprentices has
reached a new high of 6,580 young people aged 16 – 21.
“This number of Modern Apprentices is good news for communities as diverse as Blenheim, Auckland and even Scott Base in
Antarctica where trades and technically skilled people are needed”, said Darel Hall Executive Director of the Industry
Training Federation.
“It is also good news that the Minister will make an announcement on more Modern Apprentices. At a time when trades and
technical careers are earning well, there are serious shortages in these areas, and there is such concern about student
debt, the government is right to consider allowing more people to take up Modern Apprenticeships.
“The current rate of increase over the next three years, 2004 - 2006i is 20% or 1,241 places. This compares with the 44%
increase in places from 4,344 places to 6,259 places in the one year between 2002 and 2003.
Modern Apprentices 2000 - 2007
“The declining rate of increase in Modern Apprentices might be reasonable if there was good evidence to support the
notion that demand for places had been met. This is not the case. Industry Training Federation research in 2003 showed
demand for places between June 2003 and June 2004 was for 10,000 Modern Apprenticeship places, 4,000 more than on offer.
Hence, the Minister’s statement that there will be more Modern Apprenticeships is welcome.
“The Modern Apprenticeship scheme is a low cost, low risk, high return option for Government because employers
contribute the majority of the cost and the number of places are controlled by Government. There are no student loan
costs, no student allowance payments, and people are getting into occupations that provide skilled careers that
employers want,” Darel Hall said.