Construction Skills Queensland and the Queensland Government Department of Education and Training (DET) began compiling an 'Out-of-Trade' Apprentice Register in January this year to record those whose apprenticeships had been cancelled.

The current economic downturn has resulted in a number of construction workers being let off, leaving many apprentices unemployed whilst part way through their training.

At the end of May 2009, the Out-of-Trade Register listed over 455 apprentices in Queensland.

Through the work of Construction Skills Queensland, its Workforce Solutions Centre and Sunshine Coast Industry Support Office, 140 of the 595 apprentices that had been added to the Register since its creation have been placed in new employment or have finished their apprenticeship.

Construction Skills Queensland works with both the apprentices and employers as part of the Apprentice Retention Strategy. When an apprentice is added to the Register, their needs and experience are discussed and they are matched with suitable employers.