On 1 October Master Builders welcomed the Hon Ben Carroll MP, Minister for Industry and Employment, to the Building Leadership Simulation Centre (BLSC) to launch the Jobs Victoria Youth Employment Programme.

The programme is a joint initiative by government, employers and Master Builders to tackle skills shortages in the building and construction industry and aims to provide 100 young job seekers with the training in a diverse range of trades including trade assistants, construction labourers and warehouse assistants.

Partners in the Jobs Victoria programme are taking a fresh approach to recruiting new people to the trades. Employers and job seekers are provided monitoring and assistance throughout the training journey. The opportunity includes training in White Card, working safely at heights, customer service and technical skills. An on-the-ground field officer to support employer and employee and employers will also be offered as well as free employer training to help coach their worker.

Victoria has skills shortages in building and construction due to its strong economy. Economic growth in 2017-18 is expected to be almost a full percentage point higher than the national average (3.7 per cent compared to 2.8 per cent) and population growth above the national average of 1.6 per cent. This has created an unrelenting demand for skills.

Master Builders acknowledges the hard work of the Jobs Victoria team to launch this project and the work of our own Ingrid Mountford, Corrie Williams and their team.

For more information contact Ingrid Mountford, Careers Manager on (03) 9411 4588 or [email protected]