The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) has called for civil construction skills to be listed as essential on the Federal Government’s National Skills Needs List to help the sector attract new workers and upskill the existing workforce.

CCF National Chief Executive Officer Chris Melham said by updating the list with the stroke of a pen, the Prime Minister could make a real difference in attracting more apprentices to the civil construction sector.

“I commend the Prime Minister for flagging his intention to work closely with industry to reform the skills sector, so I call upon the Prime Minister to update the National Skill Needs List to include civil occupations such as bridge, road and tunnel constructors, civil plant operators, pipe layers and line markers,”

The CCF has put forward a submission to the Federal Government’s review of the National Skills Needs List. This identified the skills required for the civil construction industry however, the outcome of the review has been delayed due to COVID-19.

“Providing industry with this incentive is paramount in the current conditions, particularly at a time when industry has demonstrated it has the capacity to undertake more projects and employ more workers as evidenced by a recent CCF National survey of its members,”

Melham acknowledged the Prime Minister’s commitment to strengthen the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development to achieve a greater line of sight between the federal funding commitments and outcomes achieved by jurisdictions receiving funding under the initiative.

“I also welcome the Federal Government’s adoption of a CCF recommendation to better link funding to actual forward-looking skills needs based on what businesses need. We invite the Government to work with us on the skill requirements in the civil construction sector,”

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