The Housing Industry Association has released a report, which shows that as of June, apprentice and trainee employment in WA is down 15.1 per cent compared with the pre-GFC figure.
The number of apprentices and trainees in Queensland is also down 17.9 per cent.
HIA executive director, industry workforce development, Nick Proud said that as the resource sector gathers momentum apprenticeships and skilled construction worker numbers are critical.
"The residential sector apprenticeship in construction provides the kindergarden for carpenters, electricians and general trades that will be needed in the resource sector states," Mr Proud said.
"As the skilled trades in these states get cherry picked into resource driven construction projects, focus on the next generation of skilled trades needs to be a priority for programs such as the $200 million Critical Skills Investment Fund.
"The latest HIA-Austral Bricks Trades Report indicated that nine out of twelve occupational areas including carpentry and bricklaying are in short supply and a reducing pool of new apprentices in these particular states will not assist in filling the shortage gaps that the resources states will need," said Mr Proud.
