What Is the Queensland Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program?
+ $19 million pilot program supporting small and family-owned construction businesses.
+ Wage subsidies during training periods are available for 2,000 construction apprentices.
+ More small businesses can afford to train and retain skilled workers.
The Queensland Government has introduced a $19 million Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program to support small and family-owned construction businesses.
The program provides wage subsidies to help employers cover apprentice wages while apprentices attend off-site training.
It is designed to improve apprentice retention and strengthen the construction workforce pipeline.
Who Is Eligible for the Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy?
Eligible small construction businesses in Queensland can access subsidies for apprentices attending approved off-site training.
The program applies to construction apprentices across different year levels.
Eligibility requirements typically include:
Being a qualifying small business
Employing construction apprentices
Meeting program participation criteria
Businesses should confirm full eligibility through official Queensland Government channels.
How Much Is the Wage Subsidy?
Under the pilot program:
50% wage subsidy for first- and second-year construction apprentices
25% wage subsidy for third- and fourth-year apprentices
The subsidy applies while apprentices attend the equivalent of up to eight weeks of training per year.
This helps reduce the financial impact on small businesses when apprentices are temporarily off-site for formal training.
Why Is the Program Being Introduced?
Queensland’s construction sector continues to face:
Skilled labour shortages
High demand for new housing and infrastructure
Workforce retention challenges
The program aims to:
Support small builders
Improve apprentice retention
Strengthen long-term workforce capacity
Help meet housing and infrastructure targets
A stable pipeline of skilled trades is critical to delivering future housing supply.
How Does This Affect the Construction Industry?
For small and family-run construction businesses, the subsidy:
Reduces wage pressure during training periods
Improves apprentice affordability
Encourages long-term skills development
Supports business sustainability
For the broader property and development sector, a stronger apprentice pipeline may help:
Increase construction capacity
Reduce labour bottlenecks over time
Support housing delivery targets
What will this seriously deliver?
The Queensland Government’s $19 million Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program provides wage subsidies to eligible small construction businesses for apprentices attending off-site training.
With subsidies of up to 50% for early-year apprentices, the program is designed to ease financial pressure on small builders while strengthening the state’s construction workforce pipeline.
How Much Is the Queensland Construction Apprentice Subsidy?
Under Queensland’s Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program, eligible employers can receive total subsidy payments of:
$10,060 over four years for apprentices under 21
$13,740 over four years for apprentices aged 21 and over
The subsidy is paid across the duration of the apprenticeship, subject to eligibility and training participation requirements.
Who Can Access the Subsidy?
The program will support up to 2,000 construction trade apprentices employed by small businesses across Queensland.
To qualify:
The apprentice must commence their apprenticeship from 1 July 2025
The employer must be an eligible small business
The apprentice must complete their probation period
The apprentice must be enrolled in and attending required training
Employers can register once the apprentice has successfully completed probation.
When Does the Subsidy Apply?
The wage subsidy applies once:
The apprentice is formally enrolled in training
Off-site training attendance requirements are met
The employer satisfies program conditions
Payments are linked to ongoing training participation.
Why Was the Program Introduced?
The Queensland Government introduced the program to address:
Construction workforce shortages
Retention challenges among apprentices
Financial pressure on small building businesses
According to Ros Bates, Queensland’s Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, the program directly responds to industry calls for support in training and retaining skilled workers in the construction sector.
Why This Matters for Small Construction Businesses
For eligible small businesses, the subsidy helps:
Offset wage costs during apprenticeship training
Improve apprentice retention
Reduce financial pressure during early training years
Strengthen workforce stability
For the broader housing and development sector, expanding the skilled trade pipeline supports long-term construction capacity.
When Does it start?
Eligible Queensland small businesses employing construction apprentices who commence from 1 July 2025 may receive:
Up to $10,060 for apprentices under 21
Up to $13,740 for apprentices aged 21+
The program is capped at 2,000 apprentices statewide and requires registration after probation and confirmed training enrolment.
Who Is Funding the Queensland Small Business Apprenticeship Program?
The Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program is funded under the Crisafulli Government’s Small and Family Business First Action Statement.
According to Steve Minnikin, Queensland’s Minister for Small and Family Business, the government has committed over $100 million in new funding to support small and family businesses across the state.
The funding package is designed to help businesses grow, improve workforce stability, and strengthen key sectors including construction.
Why Is the Program Important for Small Construction Businesses?
The program aims to help small and family-owned construction businesses:
Employ more apprentices
Retain apprentices through training
Reduce financial pressure during training periods
Continue delivering housing and infrastructure projects
Apprentice retention is a critical issue in the construction sector, where workforce shortages have impacted project delivery.
How Does This Support Local Tradies?
Rebecca Young, Member for Redlands, highlighted the program’s importance for growing regions such as Redlands, which has a high concentration of:
Tradespeople
Small construction businesses
Apprentices
In fast-growing areas, maintaining a steady pipeline of trained workers supports:
Housing delivery
Infrastructure development
Local economic growth
What Is the Broader Goal of the Funding?
The broader objective of the funding initiative is to:
Strengthen Queensland’s small business sector
Improve apprenticeship completion rates
Support construction capacity
Help deliver critical infrastructure projects
By easing wage pressures during apprentice training, the program aims to improve workforce retention and long-term industry stability.
Bottom Line
The Queensland Government has committed over $100 million under its Small and Family Business First Action Statement to support small businesses, including construction employers.
The apprenticeship pilot program is part of this funding strategy and is designed to make it more affordable for small construction businesses to employ and retain apprentices while delivering essential housing and infrastructure projects.