In a plan to increase the number of training places available so that the skills shortage can be addressed, the government will focus on current, emerging and future skills needed by industry.

Around 450,000 additional skilled training places will be rolled out across sectors.

"Trades have really progressed beyond what peole think they are,"sas Kathryn Lees from The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence.

"A lot more of them have gon eon to become much more technical and the skills required have grown. We've also got the environment to think about, so their's a lot of cross-industry work between industry groups."

Farming is one of the areas in which this is occurring with new farming technologies requiring better technical skills.

"Modern farming means new apprentices get experience in the latest water saving technologies and computer equipment, satellit-guided tractors, soil management and monitoring techniques," Lees says.

"There are so many things you can do and so many lifestyle options, exciting pathways and wonderful career opportunities. We are finding that when you talk to people the feedback is: `Oh there's a lot of things that I didn't realise were out there'.

"Over the last few decades, the emphasis has been put on students going to university for a
career pathway. As result, trades and skills have lost a whole lot of status."

"A lot of what we are trying to do is to get people thinking about how important they are economically and from an industry point of view."

Many workplaces and educational institutions are now adjusting their training programs to address the Generation Y demand for greater stimulation, more meaningful work and hands-on learning.

"With younger apprentices sometimes the difficulty is retaining them for the whole period," Ms Lees says.
Generation Y want to learn and want things now. This is being recognised by the training providers and employers."