A young apprentice is considering leaving the job he loves because cost of living pressures are making it increasingly difficult for him to continue learning his trade.
Ryan Nightingale, 24, from Mulgrave in Sydney’s northwest, is a fourth-year light vehicle mechanic apprentice, a job he has long wanted in a trade he loves.
However, the young worker may have to give it all up because his $850 after-tax salary is too low to live in one of the world’s most expensive cities, creating a “weekly struggle” just to make ends meet.
“My life has been significantly impacted by the cost of living and wages simply not keeping up with inflation,” he said.
‘My tools alone could cost me $10,000, just to complete the tasks of my job.’
The apprentice said he is considering leaving the profession he always saw as his future and instead working at a gym, solely for financial reasons.
“My employer, Apprentices Are Us, and host employer, AA West Automotive in Mulgrave, have been very supportive,” she said.
Ryan Nightingale, 24, is a fourth-year apprentice light vehicle mechanic. He always wanted to be a mechanic, but with low apprentice wages not keeping pace with inflation, he is thinking of quitting.
The apprentice said his low pay has made life “a weekly struggle”
‘Honestly, the only reason I would consider leaving is because of the pressure of the cost of living on salaries.’
Learning has provided “lifelong skills,” but the financial aspect is “difficult to achieve.”
“I would love to move out (of my parents’ house) but current rents are simply unaffordable,” she said.
‘I have dreams like any other Australian: a backyard, a white picket fence and a family.
“But how do you start saving? It’s a weekly struggle. I’m always trying to improve my financial situation.”
Mr Nightingale said that while he is still able to socialise with friends, his low income makes it difficult.
“(My salary) makes socializing stressful as I need to monitor every penny I spend to make sure I have gas in my car to get to work on Monday,” she said.
He is not alone, as many other workers are forced to stop working as the country experiences a shortage of workers with manual skills.
“I’ve seen apprentices come and go from my company,” he said.
‘It’s not the conditions or the support; it’s the cost of living issue that won’t go away.
“We need to improve the way we view apprenticeships and skilled workers.”
Mr Nightingale loves his workplace and his apprenticeship, but his only reason for thinking about leaving is the money. He has heard of other apprentices leaving their trade for the same reason (pictured, the apprentice’s workplace at AA West Automotive in Mulgrave, New South Wales).
Mr Nightingale believes young Australians on apprenticeship wages are being taken advantage of.
While you can still move forward with learning with the help of family, not everyone in your situation has that kind of support..
“(For many) it seems like a pipe dream because the costs of everyday items are just out of control,” he said.
“Blue-collar workers are the backbone of the country. I’ve seen apprentices come and go, and when you ask them why, they usually say it’s because of affordability.”
A whopping 60 per cent of automotive apprentices are dropping out of training, according to a report by the industry body Capricorn.
The high statistics have the potential to leave Australia with a skills shortage in the automotive sector in the not-too-distant future.
Phil Cooksey, general manager of Apprenticeships Are Us Ltd (ARU), told Daily Mail Australia that wages are not keeping pace with inflation, but many businesses are cash-strapped and unable to pay more.
Phil Cooksey (pictured), managing director of Apprenticeships Are Us Ltd (ARU), said apprenticeship wages were not keeping pace with inflation. A whopping 60 per cent of Australian automotive apprentices are dropping out of their training
“The current pressure on the cost of living, especially in the Sydney area, is probably the biggest culprit for people abandoning their apprenticeships,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate because completing an apprenticeship offers long-term benefits, including valuable qualifications, real-world experience and a highly competitive salary.”
Mr Cooksey said a qualified car mechanic earns around $75,000 a year, but those specialising in heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses can earn $100,000 a year.
“With the strong demand for automotive skills, apprentices who complete their training will likely find job opportunities in their preferred locations,” he said.
Mr Nightingale agrees that completing his apprenticeship would give him more opportunities and still recommends a trade as “an excellent career option”.
“But something needs to be done at the government level about the cost of living,” he said.