Demand for enrolment in construction courses at TAFE has soared and the trend is expected to continue when classes kick off this year.
According to recent statistics, the Gymea campus, which attracts students from Caringbah and throughout the Sutherland Shire in New South Wales, welcomed 1,440 construction course students in 2015.
This figure rose to 1,983 last year with most participants undergoing apprenticeships.
TAFE Sydney region’s Mark Hawkins said the rising enrolments are likely to continue in 2017, with many young people keen to carry construction industry Business Cards to generate employment.
Mr. Hawkins linked the boost in enrolments to a statewide construction boom buoyed by two major factors, including low interest rates and heavy investment in large construction projects by the NSW government.
He said the low interest rates, which have been in place for quite some time, had encouraged people to carry out home renovations and other work around their properties.
Meanwhile, major construction works by the state government on huge projects including WestConnex has boosted the need for skilled workers.
Local firm Build by Design is among a number of companies to be positively affected by the construction boom.
According to co-director David Croft, its staff numbers have risen consistently during the past few years including the employment of four Sutherland shire-based apprentices.
TAFE Gymea offers a number of construction courses including certificate three for apprentices and certificate two for pre-apprentice training.
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