An interim report card issued by the Western Australian Government’s Training WA body shows that a record number of people are undertaking skills training in Western Australia.

 

Training and Workforce Development Minister Peter Collier said more importantly, this training was occurring in industries that had a high demand for skilled workers.

 

“The State Government and State Training Board produced Training WA in 2009, bringing together training providers, industry and employers to build a skilled and qualified workforce,” Mr Collier said.

 

“Through this strategy, the Government has invested $58.6million over and above its commitment to national funding agreements to support an additional 21,000 training places.”

 

“In 2010, 143,553 people were undertaking Government-funded training - that’s more than 20,000 additional people enrolling in training in the past two years, and brings the number of people in training close to the 2012 target of 145,500,” Mr Collier said.

 

The report finds there has been a 48 per cent increase in the 25-to-29-year age group undertaking training and a 57 per cent increase in the 50-to-64-year age group, while the value of higher-level skills is also being recognised, with a 38 per cent increase in course enrolments for Certificate IV and above since 2008.