Slow economy puts apprentices and employees on job search

Topics: apprentice, economy, employees, employment, jobs, mackay

ABOUT six months ago, Scott McGovern was pulled into an office and told he no longer had a job as an apprentice.

He was into his second year dual apprenticeship as a diesel fitter and auto electrician at Sharps Heavy Equipment Repairs and he has been looking for another apprenticeship ever since.

However, like many apprentices out there, he hasn't had any luck.

Many businesses have scaled back on offering apprenticeships next year as a way to cut costs, which has left young people like Mr McGovern without much hope of pursuing their trade.

"It is definitely a big downturn," he said. "When I first went to apply for an apprenticeship in Year 11, everyone was screaming for them."

Mr McGovern worked as an apprentice while finishing Years 11 and 12 at school and walked straight into a full-time apprenticeship when he graduated.

About six months ago he was among a group of about four to six apprentices who were laid off.

Mr McGovern said they were told there wasn't enough work for them, which was noticeable.

That day, Mr McGovern went home and worked on his resume. The following day he drove around Paget looking for work. His father James, who helped him in the process, said it was "near impossible" to get a job.

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Slow economy puts apprentices and employees on job search