Clean energy apprenticeship program draws more than 26,000 new starters
The Australian Government's New Energy Apprenticeship program has grown from just over 2,200 participants in 2024 to more than 26,800 commencements, with strong retention rates, increasing participation by small businesses and broader eligibility helping build the workforce for Australia's clean energy industries.
More than 26,800 Australians have now commenced a New Energy Apprenticeship since the program was introduced in 2023, reflecting continued growth in training across industries supporting Australia's clean energy transition.
Originally launched to encourage more people into trades directly linked to clean energy, the program was expanded from 1 June 2024 to include a broader range of occupations and industries with exposure to clean energy. The changes removed the requirement for apprentices to work exclusively on clean energy projects while retaining a clean energy training focus.
The expanded eligibility opened the program to more apprentices working across sectors including housing construction, automotive and advanced manufacturing, while also covering occupations involved in hydroelectricity, solar and battery installations, and electric vehicle maintenance.
The initiative now forms part of the Key Apprenticeship Program, with eligible apprentices able to receive up to $10,000 in financial support through staged payments during their training.
Numbers continue to climb
When the program was expanded in mid-2024, more than 2,210 apprentices had signed up.
By March 2026, apprenticeship commencements had exceeded 17,000, with more than one quarter of those starts occurring in the preceding six months. Government figures at the time also showed an 85 per cent retention rate after the first year, indicating more apprentices were continuing with their training.
The latest figures, released in July 2026, show commencements have now reached 26,826.
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations data shows solar remains the largest training area with 8,815 apprentices, representing 32.9 per cent of commencements. Smart technology accounts for 5,717 apprentices, or 21.3 per cent, while automotive has recorded 4,680 commencements, making up 17.4 per cent.
Sixty per cent of participants are employed by small businesses and 31 per cent are based in regional or remote communities.
Young Australians and women entering the sector
The program continues to attract younger workers, with 43 per cent of apprenticeship commencements over its life coming from people under the age of 19.
Participation by women in trades traditionally dominated by men has also continued. Since the program began, 1,086 women have commenced a New Energy Apprenticeship, representing 5.5 per cent of all participants.
Among them is 18-year-old First Nations Australian Amy Mathers from Canberra, who began an automotive technician apprenticeship with John McGrath Auto Group in February 2026, focusing on electric vehicles.
"An apprenticeship can set you up for life," Amy said. "You can build your skills and knowledge. It's something everyone should consider when leaving school."
Sydney electrical apprentice Andrew Ebrahim started with Ausgrid in January 2026 and said the combination of practical work and formal study appealed to him.
"Apprenticeships are important because they offer a strong mix of hands-on experience, real workplace learning, and study at TAFE," he said.
More occupations now qualify
The broadening of the program reflects the growing range of occupations involved in Australia's changing energy system.
The clean energy stream now includes work associated with designing, constructing and operating infrastructure used to generate, store, transmit and distribute renewable, zero and low emissions energy. It also covers activities that improve energy efficiency or install and maintain technologies that replace fossil fuel use with cleaner alternatives.
Eligible work can include battery storage, rooftop and large scale solar, wind, hydroelectricity, green hydrogen, renewable manufacturing, electric vehicle maintenance, grid strengthening technologies and projects that improve energy efficiency.
New South Wales records more than 4,400 commencements
As at 1 July 2026, Queensland had recorded the largest number of New Energy Apprenticeships with 7,975 commencements, followed by Victoria with 7,004 and New South Wales with 4,472.
Western Australia had 2,990 commencements, South Australia 2,906, Tasmania 700, the Australian Capital Territory 583 and the Northern Territory 193.
The growth of the program from just over 2,200 apprentices in 2024 to almost 27,000 by mid-2026 reflects increasing participation across industries where employers are building the skilled workforce needed for Australia's changing energy, manufacturing and technology sectors.
