Young flock to the trades, amid government spend up on infrastructure

Thursday, 15 October 2020

Kevin Goodall and his apprentice Haylee Lemon

The construction industry is shaking off a coronavirus slump in preparation for record spending on infrastructure and housing, with an influx of young apprentices swelling its ranks.

From the beginning of July to early October, 5700 new apprentices took up building and construction industry training, more than double the 2200 that switched to trades for the same period last year.

Industry leaders have told Stuff the big driver for the influx was a $1.6 billion trades and apprenticeships training package in the May budget.

Building apprentice Pearl Baker working on a new build house in Greytown.

This included fees free programme for trainees and the apprenticeship boost scheme which provided businesses up to $16,000 for each first and second year apprentice.

BCITO (Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation) chief executive Warwick Quinn said the industry had not experienced an expected post-Covid dip in construction activity and fresh skills and expertise were needed more than ever.

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Wairarapa Master Builders president Paul Southey

The Government and training organisations are hoping more apprentices will help the industry stay strong ready for a recovery.

“It’s great to see so many people wanting to take up an apprenticeship. There are fantastic opportunities for those working in the trades… and it is a sector that will be vital to New Zealand’s economic recovery,” he said.

Quinn said the training industry lobbied for Government intervention during difficult times such as this post-Covid recovery to prevent sustained skill shortages.

He said in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, apprentices has been hit especially hard, with four losing their job for every fully qualified tradesperson who lost their job.

“The economy recovered, construction took off again, and we’ve been chasing skill shortages ever since. This happens every time there’s a looming recession.”

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said it was critical to have skilled people to drive the Covid-19 recovery.

“The Government is making targeted trades training and apprenticeships free for all learners, contributing to a major uptake in trades programmes.”

Building apprentice Haylee Lemon helps her grandfather Roger Humphries with a project.

Master Builders Wairarapa president Paul Southey said the industry really needed this boost in apprentice training, but it was something that should have happened a long time ago.

”It’s long overdue, the Government let us down 20 years ago when they stopped all the apprentice schemes and employers support and it decimated the industry.

”Now that they’ve put it back into place, it will help us for the future, but it's still going to take four or five years to bring these people through the system.”

Greytown site foreman Max Byl said while more apprentices were welcome, the current surge would not be enough to meet demand.

Builder Kevin Goodall and his apprentice Haylee Lemon on site on the North Shore.

“That’s still not enough. With the amount of work that’s coming out we could do with another 4000.”

As well as new apprentices signing up, around 1,200 new employers have registered to train apprentices this year.

Pearl Baker, of Featherston, was a second-year apprentice on the same Greytown building project and was glad the industry was being supported.

“I think it’s a good initiative to get people into the trades.”

One North Shore builder was so desperate to find a good apprentice he put the call out across the trades counter in his local Bunnings.

“I announced to the staff, does anyone want a job building” said Kevin Goodall.

He was in luck and so was a young staff member who overheard the conversation. Haylee Lemon, of Glenfield, told Goodall she was keen to become a builder, and she’s never looked back.

“He came into the store one day and said alright who wants a job’ and I told him my story. He told me ‘it’s there for you if you want it’.”

“It’s working out great. I’m loving it. I haven’t had any of the issues that you’d think I would maybe have being a girl in the trade. Everyone’s been really supportive and it’s been everything I thought it would be and more.”

Starting her off at $25 an hour, Goodall believed in paying even his least experienced staff well.

“I don’t believe in paying people peanuts. I want someone who’s smart, clever and keen. I believe in paying a good wage and I want a good day’s work.”

In the first hour on site he had Lemon operating the dropsaw, and she was cutting lengths to within a millimetre.

“It’s just been pats on the back all the way through. She’s been great. Even when you chuck her in behind the retaining wall to do some digging she’s keen as,” Goodall said.