The Cook Government has announced a significant $37.5 million investment in the 2025 State Budget to expand Western Australia’s construction workforce. The initiative includes enhanced apprenticeship support and continued incentives to attract skilled tradespeople from interstate and overseas, ensuring the State can meet the growing demand for housing and infrastructure projects.
Expanding local training pathways
The Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy Program has been allocated $25.2 million, supporting more employers to take on apprentices and trainees. Under the $25.2 million expansion, the WA Government is financially supporting employers to hire 225 new apprentices or trainees by covering part or all of their wages:
- 150 placements will be subsidised at 75%, meaning the government will cover 75% of the apprentice or trainee’s wage, and the employer pays the remaining 25%.
- 75 placements will be fully subsidised at 100%, meaning the government will cover the entire wage cost for those apprentices or trainees.
This is designed to reduce the cost burden on employers, encouraging them to take on more workers and help grow the local construction workforce. The GTO program has proven critical in helping employers manage the costs of hiring and training new entrants to the construction industry.
Extending successful workforce attraction programs
A further $12.3 million has been committed to extend two key initiatives:
- The Construction Visa Subsidy Program (targeting overseas skilled migrants and supporting employers).
- The Build a Life in WA Incentive (targeting Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents)
- These programs have already demonstrated measurable success, bringing over 1,200 skilled workers into the WA construction industry.
Skilled migration support extended
The Construction Visa Subsidy Program has been extended for the third time due to overwhelming demand. It helps employers fill roles that cannot be sourced locally by providing up to $10,000 per skilled migrant, covering expenses such as:
- Migration agent fees
- Visa application fees
- Relocation costs
So far:
- $10.13 million has been provided to employers through the program.
- 849 skilled migrants have arrived and started work.
- 364 WA construction businesses are currently employing these workers.
Skilled migrants are contributing across trades and professional roles, including carpentry, electrical, cabinet making, civil engineering, and construction estimating.
Build a Life in WA results
The Build a Life in WA Incentive offers up to $10,000 to eligible workers via two milestone payments. To date:
- 1,019 skilled workers have submitted or are undergoing claims.
- 361 workers have received the first $5,000 milestone payment and started work in WA.
- 220 of those 361 workers are from New Zealand.
- The most common occupations include electricians, carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers, and earthmoving plant operators.
- 301 WA businesses have benefited, with 43 employing multiple workers under the scheme.
Government leadership and commitment
Premier Roger Cook emphasised that the investment reflects strong demand and the success of existing programs:
“Skilled tradies from overseas and the eastern states are voting with their work boots… These programs are another example of my government doing everything it can to boost the construction workforce.”
Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson added:
“We’re supporting the workforce of tomorrow with apprenticeships and the workforce of today with targeted migration programs… all while investing in modern TAFE facilities and affordable training.”
Housing and Works Minister John Carey confirmed the broader strategy:
“Increasing workforce capacity is central to solving housing supply issues—and we’re acting on all fronts.”
Need help with skilled migration or visa sponsorship?
Contact Absolute Immigration at aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com. We can guide you through visa options, program eligibility, and compliance for employing overseas workers.
