There are almost 25 per cent fewer apprentices starting trades in 2026 compared to four years ago, according to new data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

South Australia was the only state to record a decrease in the number of apprentices completing their training, the report showed. But the state government has pointed to figures showing in the past year, there has been a marked improvement.

The numbers, released today, also showed a 70 per cent drop in apprentices starting non-trade roles, which include healthcare, childcare and hospitality jobs.

State Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn said it is a “diabolical drop in apprentice numbers” that must be reversed.

“Apprenticeships are essential to build a workforce capable of delivering South Australia’s massive housing, infrastructure and defence projects,” she said.

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Hurn today repeated calls for Liberal Party policy proposals to incentivise tradies, including mandating minimum funding for training programs, investigating the merit of three-year apprenticeships and exempting apprentice wages from the payroll tax threshold.

“Labor’s plan to train the next generation of workers through fee-free TAFE has been a disaster, with less than two-thirds of those starting courses graduating; while the government’s insistence on gouging payroll tax from businesses instead of incentivising them to put on apprentices is indefensible and clearly not working,” Hurn said.

But the state government said there were year-on-year improvements that defied a national decline, with figures showing tradies finishing their courses was up 20.8 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.

State Development Minister Chris Picton said this was the second-highest percentage increase in the country in year-on-year numbers released today.

Picton was at Albert Park’s Training Centre this morning to announce the delivery of a $3 million election commitment to help graduates get ready to work on AUKUS’ submarine program and housing projects.

The program allows TAFE and not-for-profit training providers to apply for grants up to $250,000 to co-invest in new technology and upgrade site infrastructure to help them take on more tradies.

“AUKUS presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our state but to achieve this, we must develop the workforce and skills needed,” Picton said.

“We need more young people learning how to be electricians, welders and fitters.

“This important election commitment sees the state government partner with training providers to invest in improved facilities, to create an ongoing pathway to upskill the next generation.”