Almost a thousand apprentices in the Corio electorate have had their wages subsidised in a program that the federal government expanded this week.
The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements subsidy supports 978 apprentices and trainees in the seat of Corio, the second-most of any Victorian electorate under the program.
Another 514 apprentices and trainees in neighbouring electorate Corangamite are involved in the program, according to the government.
The federal government this week announced an additional $1.2 billion investment in the program, which it estimated would generate 70,000 new apprentice and trainee places.
The program will now become “demand-driven” and expanded for a full 12 months for new apprentices and trainees signed up prior to September 30, 2021, the government announced.
The current wage subsidy program is fully-subscribed, helping to create 100,000 apprenticeships in less than five months, according to the government.
“With 100,000 new apprenticeship positions already snapped up, it highlights the confidence businesses have in the future of the Australian economy,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Federal senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson also praised the program.
“The Boosting Apprentices Commencement program has to date assisted almost 40,000 businesses to take on a new Australian apprentice or trainee,” the Geelong-based senator said.
“By expanding this wage subsidy for another 12 months, we’ll be helping businesses to create even more jobs, further supporting our National Economic Recovery Plan for Australia.”
The announcement comes as the federal government plans to halt the JobKeeper payment and the JobSeeker coronavirus supplement at the end of this month.
More than 24,000 Geelong and Surf Coast residents could lose $3.6 million in coronavirus supplements, the Independent reported a fortnight ago.
As of January 29, 2021, Geelong had 10575 residents on JobSeeker, 52.8 per cent higher than 6921 in March 2020, according to Department of Social Services data.
On the Bellarine Peninsula, 2237 residents were on JobSeeker, 74 per cent higher than 1282 in March 2020.
In total, greater Geelong recorded a 56 per cent increase JobSeeker recipients and a 46 per cent increase in Youth Allowance payments.
Those figures have decreased slightly since December 2020. JobSeeker and Youth Allowance recipients are only two categories among those eligible for the supplement.
About 9000 Geelong businesses were receiving JobKeeper last September, according to Treasury figures.
