The NSW government hopes to employ an extra 1,300 apprentices and trainees across the local government sector from next year as it seeks to plug a looming skills shortage and stem the outsourcing of council jobs.

Premier Chris Minns says $252.2 million will be invested in training a new generation of skilled labour across the state, while keeping jobs with local councils rather than contractors.

It will also address the current decline in local government workforce numbers and emerging skill gaps, with a large portion of experienced local government professionals set to retire in the next five years.

The direct investment will go towards hiring new roles created by councils above their current workforce numbers with a focus on electricians, plumbers, engineers, civil construction workers, mechanics and planning cadets.

Guidelines are being developed for councils with the first batch of apprentices and trainees to start their new careers early next year.

Speeding delivery of housing and infrastruture

The government says it wants to see apprentices and cadets making up 15 per cent of local council workforces, following a number of ALGA studies identifying a critical need to boost workforce numbers.

The initiative will also hopefully train new workers to speed up the the delivery of new housing and infrastructure across NSW, local government minister Ron Hoenig says.

“This funding will provide a much-needed boost for our councils which are responsible for providing the services and facilities communities use every day,” he said in a statement.

“With the housing crisis the state government’s number one focus, this investment will also make sure councils are well equipped to build the infrastructure and facilities to support growing communities.”

The announcement has been welcomed by the The United Services Union.

“Over 1,000 young people across NSW will soon start their first job thanks to this scheme, and in the bush that’s especially valuable as it means they’ll stay put rather than move to our swollen cities looking for work or training opportunities,” said USU General Secretary, Graeme Kelly said.

“You can’t have ‘rhyme time’ at the local library, or a nice clean pool to swim in in summer or freshly mowed ovals on the weekend unless you have highly skilled, hard-working council workers providing these front line services seven days a week.”

Local government currently employs more than 50,000 people across the state’s 128 councils and many trainees and apprentices who start their career at councils go on to work in local industry.