Skilling the Clean Energy Workforce

The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy

The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Skills and Training

The Albanese Labor Government is investing $91 million over five years to help skill Australia’s clean energy workforce, as part of the 2024-25 Budget.

Bolstering skills growth and development in clean energy are crucial to building the workforce we need to move to net zero and build a Future Made in Australia.

Renewable energy is playing an increasingly pivotal role in Australia’s economy, and the Budget underscores the Albanese Government’s commitment to fostering a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and growth in the sector.

Investments in the 2024-25 Budget include:

• $50 million for a new capital and equipment investment fund for facility upgrades to expand clean energy training capacity across wind, solar, pumped hydro, grid battery storage, electricity networks and hydrogen, as well as key electrical and construction trades. Funding will be directed to facilities at capacity that are preventing people from entering apprenticeships, and regional, rural and remote communities experiencing workforce transitions. This will ensure that opportunities arising from the net zero transition are shared across the country.
• $30 million to turbocharge the Vocational Education and Training teacher, trainer and assessor workforce for clean energy. We need to make sure we have enough teachers to train the workforce we need. We’ll focus on making it easier for skilled professionals to move between working in industry and teaching at Registered Training Organisations.
• Support for small and medium businesses taking on clean energy, construction and manufacturing apprentices in a priority occupation through access to Group Training Organisation services, with up to $1,500 in annual reimbursements over the life of an apprenticeship.
• $3.1 million to promote careers in the clean energy sector and make Australians aware of the training opportunities and incentives available.
• A preliminary study on using Australia’s international education sector to tackle critical skills shortages through work integrated learning and apprenticeships where domestic training capacity permits.

The Albanese Government has adjusted the eligibility settings of the New Energy Apprenticeships Program, so more apprentices can receive up to $10,000 to help with cost-of-living pressures.

The expansion of the program, to take effect from 1 June 2024, means more clean energy apprentices can be in-training to support the transition to net zero.

The Government is promoting diversity and inclusion within the clean energy workforce and helping meet our skills needs by ensuring that opportunities are accessible to women and groups including First Nations people, people with disability and culturally and linguistically diverse Australians.

This investment continues our work to remove cost barriers to education and training and incentivise people to train in areas our economy needs them most.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen:

“The Albanese Government is making a massive investment in cleaner, cheaper reliable renewable energy with our Future Made in Australia plan, but we can only seize this opportunity if we have the skills and training for the jobs of the future in a clean energy workforce.

“That’s why we’ve committed to support training, apprenticeships, and facility and equipment upgrades across clean energy electorates.

“Young people around Australia will be able to take up clean energy opportunities through apprenticeships, helping them secure jobs of the future and support our net zero transformation.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor:

“We must do all we can to intensify our efforts to address climate change, as well as address the skills shortages we face as we undertake our Rewiring the Nation program.

“Clean energy industries are the future for our workers and include careers in solar installation, large-scale renewable projects, electric vehicles, green hydrogen and renewable manufacturing.

“By investing in skills development and fostering a culture of innovation, Australia can position itself as a global leader in clean energy technology and drive sustainable economic growth for generations to come.”