BRISBANE, Queensland, Oct. 19 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training

The Honourable Ros Bates

* The Crisafulli Government is backing Queenslanders with experience in key industries to get formal qualifications by funding relevant training and assessment. * Tradie Skills Recognition program will boost productivity in priority industries including automotive and manufacturing, while Construction Skills Queensland will back experienced construction workers to get formal trade qualifications. * TheCrisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy by turning the tide on the dire skills shortages created by Labor's decade of decline.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering life-changing formal qualifications for thousands of Queenslanders with a new program turning prior learning and work experience into official certifications.

The Tradie Skills Recognition program will fund training and assessment for almost 2,400 Queenslanders, allowing them to take on higher paid, more specialised roles, and fill shortages in the workforce.

Labor created dire skills shortages across industries and around the State, with the construction industry alone left facing a predicted peak shortfall of 50,000 skilled workers.

The workershortfall has come down considerably under the Crisafulli Government, and the new Tradie Skills program will continue to repair the damage caused bythe former Labor Governmentto the State's workforce pipeline.

Tradie Skills Recognitionwill be delivered by more than 20 Registered Training Organisations and cover 43 trade qualifications in total across the light and heavy automotive, engineering and manufacturing, personal services and hospitality industries.

The Crisafulli Government will back TAFE and other training providers to engage with employers and industry groups, encouraging workers to take part in the Tradie Skills Recognition program.

Eligible workers will then undertake a free recognition of prior learning assessment to determine what training they have left to do to get a formal qualification, potentially shaving years off an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Their remaining training will be subsidised by the Crisafulli Government, meaning workers will be able to take on higher paid roles quicker and businesses will be able to take on more jobs because of their newly skilled workforce.

Construction Skills Queensland will also support hundreds of experienced workers to gain qualifications across 17 construction trades to further drive down Labor's skills shortage.

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said recognising the skills already present in Queensland's priority industries would go a long way to helping fix Labor's mess.

"Labor's legacy was skills shortages right across our priority industries and throughout every region of the State, but the Crisafulli Government is beginning to turn the tide and rebuilding our skilled workforce pipeline," Minister Bates said.

"Tradie Skills Recognition will help fast-track formal qualifications by recognising the skills that Queenslanders have built, changing lives and boosting productivity for employers in our priority industries.

"The Crisafulli Government is delivering a generational infrastructure pipeline and we're ensuring we're driving the right skills in the right places, targeting the industries and workers that drive our state's future."

Construction Skills Queensland Chair Sue-Ann Fresneda said programs that recognise workers' existing skills could boost productivity in the construction industry.

"Queensland's construction industry is facing a significant pipeline of work over the coming years, and ensuring workers can have their skills formally recognised is essential to building the workforce capacity needed to deliver it," Ms Fresneda said.

"For many workers, years of industry experience have never translated into a formal qualification. Skills Assessment and Gap Training helps individuals strengthen their credentials, increase career mobility and access new opportunities within the industry.

"When more workers hold recognised qualifications, the benefits extend well beyond the individual. Employers gain confidence in the capability of their workforce, industry productivity is strengthened, and Queensland is better positioned to meet future construction demand with a skilled and job-ready workforce."

MTA Queensland Chief Executive Rod Camm said Tradie Skills Recognition will help Queenslanders get their cars serviced quicker as employers developed more skilled workers.

"This is a great example of how the Government is listening to industry and supporting us with practical solutions to workforce shortages," Mr Camm said.

"This program will grow the pool of skilled and qualified mechanics across the State, which will mean fewer delays for Queenslanders looking to get their cars serviced."

For more information about Tradie Skills Recognition visit https://dtet.qld.gov.au/training/providers/funded/tradie-skills-recognition

ENDS

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