Jobs hope for young amid COVID

A local contracting company has given young jobseekers the opportunity to upskill and develop their trades.

Karratha Contracting has hired seven apprentices over the past 12 months, including three who were displaced after having their employment terminated because of COVID-19.

Karratha Contracting accounts manager Tara Staley said it was important to provide young locals with the opportunity to develop their career in their chosen trade and help create more tradespeople for the region.

“We are just trying to help out as much as we can and take on a few new ones so they can get on with their apprenticeship,” she said.

“That’s what we want to do — offer local employment opportunities and that’s what we’ve been big on.

“A lot of them are committing to living here because they’re on a four-year apprenticeship, so it just helps build up Karratha locally, too.”

Ms Staley said the company was fortunate to have kept busy during COVID-19 as it continued with insurance works from tropical cyclone Damien.

“For us it’s just been busy. We haven’t stopped,” she said.

“We always seem to have a skills shortage every time you see a big project or something come up and you actually need qualified and skilled tradesman, it’s a hard thing to find in Karratha.

“So unless local businesses are trying to create these opportunities for kids that are leaving school or even young adults then you’re not doing anything about the skills shortage.”

Ms Staley encouraged other local businesses to consider taking on apprentices as there was currently a lot of government support.

“There are benefits for employers to actually offer new apprenticeships Australia-wide,” she said.

“It’s something all local businesses should be looking in to.”