The North of Tasmania has the lowest number of apprentices in the state, with 1989 apprentices and trainees studying at TasTAFE as of January 2018.
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Figures from the Department of State Growth show TasTAFE enrolments in the South are the highest at 3831, and in the North West 2078.
Carpentry and joinery have plenty of apprentices, with 9.2 per cent of enrolments, followed by cooks at 6.2 per cent.
However hospitality accounts for just 1.5 per cent of TasTAFE enrolments, with plasterers and cabinetmaking the most unpopular trades, filling out about 1 per cent of apprenticeships in Tasmania.
Across the state apprenticeships have declined 12.7 over the past five years, following a national trend that reflects the increased push toward university enrolment.
Both the Tasmanian state government and the opposition have highlighted policies aimed at increasing motivation for small businesses to take on apprentices in a bid to increase the number of qualified, skilled workers.
The state government announced on Wednesday an election policy of extending their apprenticeships payroll tax rebate scheme for small businesses until 2021, hoping to encourage skill increases in construction, advanced manufacturing, tourism and hospitality.
An elected Labor government would introduce a $3000 apprenticeship bonus payment scheme to tackle poor uptake rates.
June quarterly data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research showed Tasmania’s trade apprenticeships were down 4.6 per cent from 2016, but non-trades were up 12.7 per cent.